58-464: Monodon Delphinapterus The cetacean family Monodontidae comprises two living whale species, the narwhal and the beluga whale and at least four extinct species, known from the fossil record. Beluga and Narwhal are native to coastal regions and pack ice around the Arctic Ocean . Both species are relatively small whales, 3–5 m (9.8–16.4 ft) in length, with a forehead melon , and
116-424: A sister taxon . A later 2020 phylogenetic study based on mitochondrial DNA suggested that, around 4.98 million years ago (mya), the narwhal split from the beluga whale. The fossil species Casatia thermophila of early Pliocene central Italy was described as a possible narwhal ancestor when it was discovered in 2019. Bohaskaia , Denebola and Haborodelphis were other extinct genera known during
174-472: A 2013 paper estimated that gross revenue per narwhal was CA$ 6,542 (US$ 6,091). Hunts receive subsidies , but they continue mainly to support tradition, rather than for profit. Economic analysis noted that whale watching may be an alternate source of revenue. As narwhals grow, bioaccumulation of heavy metals takes place. It is thought that pollution in the ocean is the primary cause of bioaccumulation in marine mammals; this may lead to health problems for
232-688: A birth interval of around 2–3 years. As with most marine mammals, only a single young is born, averaging 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length with white or light grey pigmentation. Summer population surveys along different coastal inlets of Baffin Island found that calf numbers varied from 0.05% of 35,000 in Admiralty Inlet , to 5% of 10,000 total in Eclipse Sound . These findings suggest that higher calf counts may reflect calving and nursery habitats in favourable inlets. Newborn calves begin their lives with
290-662: A high fidelity of return to preferred ice-free summering grounds, usually in shallow waters. In summer months, they move closer to coasts, often in pods of 10–100. In the winter, they move to offshore, deeper waters under thick pack ice , surfacing in narrow fissures or in wider fractures known as leads . As spring comes, these leads open up into channels and the narwhals return to the coastal bays . Narwhals in Baffin Bay typically travel further north, to northern Canada and Greenland, between June and September. After this period, they travel about 1,700 kilometres (1,100 mi) south to
348-451: A short or absent snout. Premaxillary teeth are absent. They do not have a true dorsal fin, but do have a narrow ridge running along the back, which is much more pronounced in the narwhal. They are highly vocal animals, communicating with a wide range of sounds. Like other whales, they also use echolocation to navigate. Belugas can be found in the far north of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans;
406-490: A single calf. The young are not weaned for a full two years, and do not reach sexual maturity until they are five to eight years of age. Family groups travel as part of herds, or 'pods', which may contain several hundred individuals. The monodontids, oceanic dolphins (Delphinidae) and porpoises (Phocoenidae) together comprise the Delphinoidea superfamily. Genetic evidence suggests the porpoises are more closely related to
464-407: A thickset body with a short, blunt snout, small upcurved flippers, and convex to concave tail flukes. Adults measure in body-to-tail length from 3.0 to 5.5 m (9.8 to 18.0 ft) and weigh 800 to 1,600 kg (1,800 to 3,500 lb). Male narwhals attain sexual maturity at 12 to 20 years of age, reaching a length of 3.5 to 4.0 m (11.5 to 13.1 ft). Females become sexually mature at
522-445: A thin layer of blubber. The blubber thickens as they nurse their mother's milk, which is rich in fat; calves are dependent on milk for about 20 months. This long lactation period gives calves time to learn skills they will need to survive as they mature. Narwhals are among the few animals that undergo menopause and live for decades after they have finished breeding. Females in this phase may continue to protect calves in
580-407: A third of the body mass and helps insulate from cold ocean temperatures. Skeletal muscles in the narwhal are highly adapted for prolonged periods of deep-sea foraging. During such activities, oxygen is reserved in the muscles, which are typically slow-twitch , allowing for endurance and manoeuvrable motion. The most conspicuous characteristic of the male narwhal is a long, spiralled tusk, which
638-483: A true dorsal fin . Although the narwhal and beluga are classified as separate genera, there is some evidence that they may, very rarely, interbreed . The remains of an abnormal-looking whale, described by marine zoologists as unlike any known species, were found in West Greenland around 1990. It had features midway between a narwhal and a beluga, indicating that the remains belonged to a narluga (a hybrid between
SECTION 10
#1732849128338696-537: A younger age, between 8 and 9 years old, when they are about 3.4 m (11 ft) long. On average, males are about 70 cm (28 in) longer and more than 75% heavier than females. The pigmentation of the narwhal is a mottled pattern , with blackish-brown markings over a white background. At birth, the skin is light grey, and when sexually mature, white patches grow on the navel and genital slit . This whitening occurs throughout life, resulting in aged narwhals that are almost pure white. Unlike most whales,
754-454: Is 2,370 m (7,780 ft). Dives last up to 25 minutes, but can vary in depth, depending on the season and local variation between environments. For example, in the Baffin Bay wintering grounds, narwhals tend to dive deep within the precipitous coasts, typically south of Baffin Bay. This suggests differences in habitat structure, prey availability, or genetic adaptations between subpopulations. In
812-408: Is a canine tooth that projects from the left side of the upper jaw. Both sexes have a pair of tusks embedded in the upper jaw, which in males erupts at two or three. The tusk grows throughout the animal's life, reaching lengths of 1.5 to 3 m (4 ft 11 in to 9 ft 10 in). It is hollow and weighs up to 7.45 kg (16.4 lb). Some males may grow two tusks, occurring when
870-875: Is also a highly innervated sensory organ with millions of nerve endings that connect seawater stimuli to the brain, allowing the narwhal to sense temperature variability in its surroundings. These nerves may be able to pick up the slightest increase or decrease in the magnitude of particles and water pressure. According to Dr. Martin Nweeia, male narwhals may rid themselves of encrustations on their tusks by rubbing them together, as opposed to posturing displays of aggressive male-to-male rivalry. Drone footage from August 2016 in Tremblay Sound, Nunavut , revealed that narwhals used their tusks to tap and stun small Arctic cod , making them easier to catch for feeding. Females, who usually do not have tusks, live longer than males, hence
928-554: Is an important source of vitamin C , which is otherwise difficult to obtain in the Arctic Circle. In some places in Greenland, such as Qaanaaq , traditional hunting methods are used and whales are harpooned from handmade kayaks . In other parts of Greenland and Northern Canada, high-speed boats and hunting rifles are used. Least concern A least-concern species is a species that has been evaluated and categorized by
986-567: Is classified as special concern under the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), which aims to classify the risk levels of species in the country. Narwhals are hunted for their skin, meat , teeth, tusks and carved vertebrae , which are commercially traded. About 1,000 narwhals are killed per year: 600 in Canada and 400 in Greenland. Canadian catches were steady at this level in
1044-480: Is currently unclear to what extent sea ice changes pose a danger to narwhals. Narwhals are preyed upon by polar bears and orcas . In some instances, the former have been recorded waiting at breathing holes for young narwhals, while the latter were observed surrounding and killing entire narwhal pods. To escape predators such as orcas, narwhals may use prolonged submersion to hide under ice floes rather than relying on speed. Researchers found Brucella in
1102-407: Is derived from Greek : 'single-tooth single-horn'. The narwhal is most closely related to the beluga whale ( Delphinapterus leucas ). Together, these two species comprise the only extant members of the family Monodontidae , sometimes referred to as the "white whales". The Monodontidae are distinguished by their pronounced melons (acoustic sensory organs), short snouts and the absence of
1160-468: Is needed to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution or population status. Since 2001 the category has had the abbreviation "LC", following the IUCN 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1). Before 2001 "least concern" was a subcategory of the " Lower Risk " category and assigned the code "LR/lc" or lc. Around 20% of least concern taxa (3261 of 15,636) in
1218-777: The Arctic freezes over in late autumn. This is known as "sea-ice entrapment". Narwhals drown if open water is no longer accessible and ice is too thick for them to break through. Breathing holes in ice may be up to 1,450 m (4,760 ft) apart, which limits the use of foraging grounds. These holes must be at least 0.5 m (1.6 ft) wide to allow an adult whale to breathe. Narwhals also die of starvation from entrapment events. In 1914–1915, around 1,000 narwhal carcasses were discovered after entrapment events, most occurring in areas such as Disko Bay in West Greenland . Several cases of sea entrapment were recorded in 2008–2010, during
SECTION 20
#17328491283381276-658: The Davis Strait , and stay there until April. During winter, narwhals from Canada and West Greenland regularly visit the pack ice of the Davis Strait and Baffin Bay along the continental slope which contains less than 5% open water and hosts high densities of Greenland halibut . Narwhals normally congregate in groups of three to eight—and sometimes up to twenty—individuals. Groups may be "nurseries" with only females and young, or can contain only juveniles or adult males ("bulls"); mixed groups can occur at any time of year. In
1334-473: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as not being a focus of wildlife conservation because the specific species is still plentiful in the wild. They do not qualify as threatened , near threatened , or (before 2001) conservation dependent . Species cannot be assigned the "Least Concern" category unless they have had their population status evaluated. That is, adequate information
1392-742: The Pliocene of the eastern and western United States. Fossil evidence shows that ancient white whales lived in tropical waters. They may have migrated to Arctic and subarctic waters in response to changes in the marine food chain. The following phylogenetic tree is based on a 2019 study of the family Monodontidae . † Kentriodon pernix Tursiops truncatus (Common bottlenose dolphin) Phocoena phocoena (Harbour porpoise) † Haborodelphis japonicus † Denebola brachycephala † Bohaskaia monodontoides Monodon monoceros † Casatia thermophila IRSNB M 1922 Delphinapterus leucas (Beluga whale) The narwhal has
1450-503: The blowhole . The frequency of these sounds ranges from 0.3 to 125 hertz , while those used for echolocation typically fall between 19 and 48 hertz. Sounds are reflected off the sloping front of the skull and focused by the animal's melon, which can be controlled through surrounding musculature. Echolocation clicks are used for detecting prey and locating barriers at short distances. Whistles and throbs are most commonly used to communicate with other pod members. Calls recorded from
1508-527: The palate . The varied morphology and anatomy of small teeth indicate a path of evolutionary obsolescence. The narwhal is found in the Atlantic and Russian areas of the Arctic Ocean . Individuals are commonly recorded in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago , such as in the northern part of Hudson Bay , Hudson Strait , Baffin Bay ; off the east coast of Greenland; and in a strip running east from
1566-560: The 1970s, dropped to 300–400 per year in the late 1980s and 1990s and have risen again since 1999. Greenland caught more, 700–900 per year, in the 1980s and 1990s. Narwhal tusks are sold both carved and uncarved in Canada and Greenland. Per hunted narwhal, an average of one or two vertebrae and one or two teeth are sold. In Greenland, the skin ( muktuk ) is sold commercially to fish factories , and in Canada to other communities. Based on an analysis of 2007 narwhal hunts in Hudson Bay,
1624-476: The Arctic winter, including in some places where such events had never been recorded before. This suggests later departure dates from summering grounds. Wind and currents move sea ice from adjacent locations to Greenland, leading to fluctuations in concentration. Due to their tendency of returning to the same areas, changes in weather and ice conditions are not always associated with narwhal movement toward open water. It
1682-555: The IUCN database still use the code "LR/lc", which indicates they have not been re-evaluated since 2000. While "least concern" is not considered a red listed category by the IUCN, the 2006 IUCN Red List still assigns the category to 15,636 taxa. The number of animal species listed in this category totals 14,033 (which includes several undescribed species such as a frog from the genus Philautus ). There are also 101 animal subspecies listed and 1500 plant taxa (1410 species, 55 subspecies, and 35 varieties). No fungi or protista have
1740-463: The Unicorn have found a prevalent place in human arts . Narwhals have been hunted by Inuit to the same extent as other sea mammals, such as seals and whales . Almost all parts of the narwhal—the meat, skin, blubber and organs—are consumed. Muktuk , the raw skin and attached blubber, is considered a delicacy. As a custom, one or two vertebrae per animal are used for tools and art . The skin
1798-543: The beluga whale. However, the frequency ranges, durations, and repetition rates of narwhal clicks differ from those of belugas. Age determination techniques using the number of periosteum layers in the lower jaw reveal that narwhals live an average of 50 years, though techniques using amino acid dating from the lens of the eyes suggest that female narwhals can reach 115 ± 10 years and male narwhals can live to 84 ± 9 years. Death by suffocation often occurs when narwhals fail to migrate before
Monodontidae - Misplaced Pages Continue
1856-484: The bloodstreams of numerous narwhals throughout the course of a 19-year study. They were also recorded with whale lice species such as Cyamus monodontis and Cyamus nodosus . Other pathogens include Toxoplasma gondii , morbillivirus , and papillomavirus . In 2018, a female narwhal had alphaherpesvirus in her system. The narwhal is listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN Red List . As of 2017,
1914-511: The closely related beluga whale , with which it overlaps in range and can interbreed . It is a stocky cetacean with a relatively blunt snout, a large melon , and a shallow ridge in place of a dorsal fin . Males of this species have a large 1.5–3.0 m (4 ft 11 in – 9 ft 10 in) long tusk , which is a left protruded canine thought to serve as a weapon or as a tool for feeding, attracting mates or sensing water salinity. Specially adapted slow-twitch muscles , along with
1972-512: The concentration of metals in their organs. Narwhals are one of the Arctic marine mammals most vulnerable to climate change due to sea ice decline, especially in their northern wintering grounds such as the Baffin Bay and Davis Strait regions. Satellite data collected from these areas shows the amount of sea ice has been markedly reduced from what it was previously. It is thought that narwhals' foraging ranges reflect patterns they acquired early in life, which improves their capacity to obtain
2030-407: The distribution of narwhals is restricted to the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Monodontids have a wide-ranging carnivorous diet, feeding on fish, molluscs, and small crustaceans. They have reduced teeth, with the beluga having numerous simple teeth, and the narwhal having only two teeth, one of which forms the tusks in males. Gestation lasts 14–15 months in both species, and almost always results in
2088-508: The food supplies they need for the winter. This strategy focuses on strong site fidelity rather than individual-level responses to local prey distribution, resulting in focal foraging areas during the winter. As such, despite changing conditions, narwhals will continue to return to the same areas during migration. Reduction in sea ice has possibly led to increased exposure to predation. In 2002, hunters in Siorapaluk experienced an increase in
2146-401: The former are bent inward, while the latter have a sweep-back on the front margins. This is thought to be an adaptation for reducing drag caused by the tusk. Compared with most marine mammals, the narwhal has a higher amount of myoglobin in its body, which facilitates deeper dives. It has a dense layer of blubber , around 50 to 100 mm (2.0 to 3.9 in) thick. This fat accounts for
2204-798: The global population is estimated to be 123,000 mature individuals out of a total of 170,000. There were about 12,000 narwhals in Northern Hudson Bay in 2011, and around 49,000 near Somerset Island in 2013. There are approximately a total of 35,000 in Admiralty Inlet , 10,000 in Eclipse Sound, 17,000 in Eastern Baffin Bay , and 12,000 in Jones Sound . Population numbers in Smith Sound , Inglefield Bredning and Melville Bay are 16,000, 8,000 and 3,000, respectively. There are roughly 800 narwhals in
2262-563: The jointed neck vertebrae and shallow dorsal ridge allow for easy movement through the Arctic environment, where the narwhal spends extended periods at great depths. The narwhal inhabits the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland and Russia. Every year, it migrates to ice-free summering grounds, usually in shallow waters, and often returns to the same sites in subsequent years. Its diet mainly consists of polar and Arctic cod , Greenland halibut , cuttlefish , shrimp , and armhook squid . Plunging at depths of up to 2,370 m (7,780 ft),
2320-551: The mouth. A study of the stomach contents of 73 narwhals found Arctic cod ( Boreogadus saida ) to be the most commonly consumed prey, followed by Greenland halibut ( Reinhardtius hippoglossoides ). Large quantities of Boreo-Atlantic armhook squid ( Gonatus fabricii ) were discovered. Males were more likely than females to consume two additional prey species: polar cod ( Arctogadus glacialis ) and redfish ( Sebastes marinus ), both of which are found in depths of more than 500 m (1,600 ft). The study also concluded that
2378-439: The narwhal has a shallow dorsal ridge, rather than a dorsal fin, possibly an evolutionary adaptation to make swimming under ice easier or to facilitate rolling. The neck vertebrae are jointed, instead of being fused as in most whales; this allows a greater range of neck flexibility. These characteristics—a dorsal ridge and jointed neck vertebrae—are shared by the beluga whale. Male and female narwhals have different tail flukes;
Monodontidae - Misplaced Pages Continue
2436-448: The narwhal is among the deepest-diving cetaceans . It travels in groups of three to eight, with aggregations of up to 1,000 occurring in the summer months. It mates in the offshore pack ice from March to May, and the young are born in July or August of the following year. When communicating, a variety of clicks, whistles and knocks are used. There are an estimated 170,000 living narwhals, and
2494-466: The narwhal population. When bioaccumulating, numerous metals appear in the blubber, liver, kidney and musculature. A study found that the blubber was nearly devoid of these metals, whereas the liver and kidneys had a dense concentration of them. Relative to the liver, the kidney has a greater concentration of zinc and cadmium , while lead , copper and mercury were not nearly as abundant. Individuals of different weight and sex showed dissimilarities in
2552-412: The northern end of Greenland round to eastern Russia ( 170° east ). Land in this strip includes Svalbard , Franz Joseph Land and Severnaya Zemlya . The northernmost sightings of narwhals have occurred north of Franz Joseph Land, at about 85° north . There are an estimated 12,500 narwhals in northern Hudson Bay, whereas around 140,000 reside in Baffin Bay. Narwhals exhibit seasonal migration , with
2610-452: The northern wintering grounds, narwhals do not dive as deep as the southern population, in spite of greater water depths in these areas. This is mainly attributed to prey being concentrated nearer to the surface, which causes narwhals to alter their foraging strategies. Narwhals have a restricted and specialised diet. Due to the lack of well-developed dentition , narwhals are believed to feed by swimming close to prey and sucking them into
2668-828: The number of caught narwhals, but this increase did not seem to be linked to enhanced endeavour, implying that climate change may be making the narwhal more vulnerable to hunting. Scientists recommend assessing population numbers, assigning sustainable quotas , and ensuring local acceptance of sustainable development. Seismic surveys associated with oil exploration disrupt the narwhal's normal migration patterns. These disturbed migrations may also be associated with increased sea ice entrapment. Narwhals have coexisted alongside circumpolar peoples for millennia. Their long, distinctive tusks were often held with fascination throughout human history. These tusks were prized for their supposed healing powers, and were worn on staffs and thrones. Depictions of narwhals in paintings such as The Lady and
2726-597: The pod. A 2024 study concluded that five species of Odontoceti evolved menopause to acquire higher overall longevity, though their reproductive periods did not change. To explain this, scientists hypothesised that calves of the five Odontoceti species require the assistance of menopausal females for an enhanced chance at survival, as they are extremely difficult for a single female to successfully rear. Like most toothed whales, narwhals use sound to navigate and hunt for food. They primarily vocalise through clicks, whistles and knocks, created by air movement between chambers near
2784-477: The right canine also protrudes through the lip. Females rarely grow tusks: when they do, the tusks are typically smaller than those of males, with less noticeable spirals. The function of the narwhal tusk is debated. Some biologists suggest that narwhals use their tusks in fights, while others argue that they may be of use in feeding. There is, however, a scientific consensus that tusks are secondary sexual characteristics which indicate social status. The tusk
2842-399: The same pod are more similar than calls from different pods, suggesting the possibility of group- or individual-specific calls. Narwhals sometimes adjust the duration and pitch of their pulsed calls to maximise sound propagation in varying acoustic environments. Other sounds produced by narwhals include trumpeting and "squeaking-door sounds". The narwhal vocal repertoire is similar to that of
2900-451: The size of prey did not differ among genders or ages. Other items found in stomachs have included wolffish , capelin , skate eggs and sometimes rocks. Narwhal diet varies by season. In winter, narwhals feed on demersal prey, mostly flatfish , under dense pack ice. During the summer, they eat mostly Arctic cod and Greenland halibut, with other fish such as polar cod making up the remainder of their diet. Narwhals consume more food in
2958-447: The species is listed as being of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The population is threatened by the effects of climate change , such as the reduction in ice cover , and human activities such as pollution and hunting . The narwhal has been hunted for thousands of years by Inuit in northern Canada and Greenland for meat and ivory , and regulated subsistence hunts continue. The narwhal
SECTION 50
#17328491283383016-472: The summer, several groups come together, forming larger aggregations which can contain 500 to over 1,000 individuals. Male narwhals have been observed rubbing each other's tusks, a behaviour known as "tusking". When in their wintering waters, narwhals make some of the deepest dives recorded for cetaceans, diving to at least 800 m (2,620 ft) over 15 times per day, with many dives reaching 1,500 m (4,920 ft). The greatest dive depth recorded
3074-460: The tusk cannot be essential to the animal's survival. It is generally accepted that the primary function of the narwhal tusk is associated with sexual selection . The narwhal has a single pair of small vestigial teeth that reside in open tooth sockets in the upper jaw. These teeth, which differ in form and composition, encircle the exposed tooth sockets laterally, posteriorly, and ventrally. Vestigial teeth in male narwhals are commonly shed in
3132-452: The two species); this was confirmed by a 2019 DNA analysis . Whether the hybrid could breed remains unknown. Results of a genetic study reveal that porpoises and white whales are closely related, forming a separate clade which diverged from dolphins about 11 million years ago. A 2018 molecular analysis of Monodontidae fossils indicates that they had separated from Phocoenidae around 10.82 to 20.12 mya; they are considered to be
3190-723: The waters off Svalbard. In the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act , the United States banned imports of products made from narwhal parts. They are listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). These committees restrict international trading of live animals and their body parts, as well as implement sustainable action plans. The species
3248-464: The white whales, and these two families constitute a separate clade which diverged from the Delphinidae within the past 11 million years. Narwhal The narwhal ( Monodon monoceros ) is a species of toothed whale native to the Arctic . It is the only member of the genus Monodon and one of two living representatives of the family Monodontidae . The narwhal has a similar build to
3306-435: The winter months than they do in summer. Most female narwhals reproduce by the time they are six to eight years old. Courtship and mating behaviour for the species has been recorded from March to May, when they are in offshore pack ice, and is thought to involve a dominant male mating with several partners. The average gestation lasts 15 months, and births appear to be most frequent between July and August. A female has
3364-452: Was scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 Systema Naturae . The word "narwhal" comes from the Old Norse nárhval , meaning 'corpse-whale', which possibly refers to the animal's grey, mottled skin and its habit of remaining motionless when at the water's surface, a behaviour known as "logging" that usually happens in the summer. The scientific name, Monodon monoceros ,
#337662