Narwhal

The Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is a toothed whale that lives in Arctic waters around Canada, Greenland and Russia. It is stocky, with a blunt snout, a large melon and a shallow ridge instead of a dorsal fin.

Adults measure 3.0 to 5.5 m and weigh 800 to 1,600 kg. Males are on average about 70 cm longer and over 75% heavier than females. The skin is mottled, with blackish-brown markings on a white background, and older Narwhals can look almost purely white.

The most famous feature is the male's spiralled tusk, a left upper canine that grows 1.5 to 3 m long. There are an estimated 170,000 Narwhals, and they are listed as of least concern by the IUCN.

Narwhals are most closely related to the beluga whale, and together they are the only living members of their family. A 2020 study suggested the two split about 4.98 million years ago. Porpoises are also close relatives. Fossil relatives lived in tropical waters and may have moved into Arctic waters as the marine food chain changed.

The Narwhal was scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The word comes from the Old Norse nárhval, meaning 'corpse-whale'.

People have lived alongside Narwhals for thousands of years. Inuit have hunted them for meat and ivory, and regulated subsistence hunting continues today. Vikings and Greenland Norse likely began the tusk trade, and in medieval Europe the tusks were believed to be unicorn horns. Elizabeth I received one allegedly valued at £10,000. Belief in their magical powers faded after the unicorn idea was refuted.

Narwhals normally travel in groups of three to eight. Some groups are females with young, and others are only juveniles or adult males. In summer, groups join into aggregations of 500 to over 1,000.

They migrate each year to ice-free summering grounds, usually in shallow coastal waters, and often return to the same places. In winter they move offshore under thick pack ice.

They are among the deepest-diving whales. The record is 2,370 m, and dives last up to 25 minutes. They eat mainly Arctic cod, Greenland halibut, squid and shrimp, probably sucking prey into the mouth.

They communicate with clicks, whistles and knocks. Males rub tusks together in a behaviour called tusking, and Narwhals sometimes float motionless at the surface, known as logging.

Narwhals live an average of about 50 years by one method of age estimation. Another method suggests females can reach around 115 years and males around 84.

A known danger is sea-ice entrapment. If Narwhals fail to leave before the Arctic freezes in late autumn, they can drown or starve when open water is out of reach. Polar bears and orcas prey on them.

Brucella bacteria have been found in the blood of many Narwhals. Other known pathogens include Toxoplasma gondii, morbillivirus and papillomavirus, and whale lice have been recorded. Heavy metals also build up in their bodies, especially in the liver and kidneys.

This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. If you find an injured or unwell wild animal, contact a vet or a wildlife rescue.

What is a Narwhal?

It is a toothed whale from the Arctic. Males usually have one long spiralled tusk, which is really a tooth.

How long do Narwhals live?

They live an average of about 50 years. Some age estimates suggest far longer for females.

Why do Narwhals have a tusk?

The tusk is mainly thought to be a sign of social status linked to sexual selection. It is also a sensory organ with millions of nerve endings. Drone footage showed Narwhals using it to tap and stun small Arctic cod.

Do female Narwhals have tusks?

Females rarely grow tusks. When they do, the tusks are usually smaller with less noticeable spirals.

Were Narwhal tusks really unicorn horns?

No. Medieval Europeans believed they were, but this was scientifically refuted. The tusks come from Narwhals.

The tusk is hollow and can weigh up to 7.45 kg. Some males grow two tusks.

Newborn Narwhals are light grey and whiten as they age.

A calf depends on its mother's milk for about 20 months. Narwhals are among the few animals known to go through menopause.

Narwhals can interbreed with belugas. A whale found in West Greenland around 1990 was confirmed by DNA in 2019 to be a hybrid.

In 2025 the United Kingdom protected Narwhals under the Ivory Act.