SPECIES
Narwhal
Monodon monoceros
The so-called unicorn of the sea carries a remarkable spiral tooth through the Arctic.
The long tusk is usually an elongated upper canine in males, with sensory and social functions still studied.
Narwhals feed on fish and squid at depth and depend on Arctic marine environments.
High Arctic waters around Greenland and the Canadian Arctic.
Where does a narwhal live?
High Arctic waters around Greenland and the Canadian Arctic.
Worth knowing
- Adaptation The long tusk is usually an elongated upper canine in males, with sensory and social functions still studied.
- Ecological role Narwhals feed on fish and squid at depth and depend on Arctic marine environments.
- Home High Arctic waters around Greenland and the Canadian Arctic.
How it survives
The long tusk is usually an elongated upper canine in males, with sensory and social functions still studied.
The so-called unicorn of the sea carries a remarkable spiral tooth through the Arctic.
Why relationships matter
Narwhals feed on fish and squid at depth and depend on Arctic marine environments.
Where it lives
High Arctic waters around Greenland and the Canadian Arctic.
Pressures and responses
Climate-driven sea-ice change, noise and shifting human activity.
Protect Arctic acoustic habitats and use population-specific evidence.
Sources
- University of Michigan Museum of Zoology — Animal Diversity Web, Monodon monoceros
- GBIF — Monodon monoceros accepted taxon
- NOAA Ocean Exploration — What do narwhals eat?
- NOAA Fisheries — Local protection is distinct
- NOAA Fisheries — Whales, social cetaceans
Records of where it has been seen come live from GBIF; observed interactions from GloBI. Draft — not yet reviewed by a person.