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Animals

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A-Z

Narwhal

Monodon monoceros

A pod of narwhals swim through Baffin
Bay.

Photograph by Paul
Nicklen

Narwhal Profile

The narwhal is the unicorn of the sea, a pale-colored
porpoise found in Arctic coastal waters and rivers.
These legendary animals have two teeth. In males, the
more prominent tooth grows into a sword-like, spiral
tusk up to 8.75 feet (2.7 meters) long. The ivory tusk
tooth grows right through the narwhal's upper lip.
Scientists are not certain of the tusk's purpose, but
some believe it is prominent in mating rituals, perhaps
used to impress females or to battle rival suitors.
Females sometimes grow a small tusk of their own, but it
does not become as prominent as the
male's.

Narwhals are related to bottlenose
dolphins, belugas, harbor porpoises, and orcas. Like
some other porpoises, they travel in groups and feed on
fish, shrimp, squid, and other aquatic fare. They are
often sighted swimming in groups of 15 to 20, but
gatherings of hundreds—or even several thousand—narwhals
have been reported. Sometimes these groups become
trapped by shifting pack ice and fall victim to Inuit
hunters, polar bears, or walruses.

Inuit people
hunt the narwhal for their long tusks and their skin, an
important source of vitamin C in the traditional Arctic
diet. Orcas also prey on narwhals in open
waters.

Fast Facts

Type: Mammal

Diet: Carnivore

Size: 13 to 20 ft (4 to 6.1
m)

Weight: 3,500 lbs (1,600 kg)

Size relative to a bus:

Multimedia

Narwhal Printable Factsheet

Video:
Narwhals

Porpoise and Whale Features

Evolution
of Whales

A new fossil find sheds light on how whales evolved.
Find out more in this feature.

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Swimming
to Safety

Find out how scientists and herring fishermen have
teamed up to save trapped harbor porpoises in this
feature.

Learn
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Virtual
World: Arctic

Get a bearded seal's view of Arctic wildlife in this
Crittercam feature.

Come
Explore

Arctic
Ivory

Prized by medieval royalty, narwhal tusks have driven
men to extremes for centuries. Today the quest for tusks
and skin threatens some populations.

Read
More

Other Whales

Blue
Whale

Killer
Whale (Orca)

Gray
Whale

Sperm
Whale

Humpback
Whale

Beluga
Whale

Narwhal range

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