Narwhal

ID points

• In males the upper left canine grows out into a long spiral tusk
• No dorsal fin on the back, only a low ridge
• Grey-white ground densely mottled with dark patches that fade with age

Basics

Family

Monodontidae

Length

4.0–5.0 m

Depth

0-1500 m

Regions

Temperate & polar

Distribution

Icy waters of the Arctic

Habitat

Icy Arctic waters

Diet

Cod, squid, shrimp

Easily confused with

Beluga WhaleAdults are pure white all over, calves are greyBottlenose DolphinShort thick bottle-shaped snout, with a crease where it meets the foreheadCommon DolphinAn hourglass patch of cream and pale grey on the flank

Fun fact

The tusk of the Narwhal is really its left canine tooth. It can grow to 3 metres long, and its surface holds millions of sensory nerve endings that detect changes in water temperature, salinity and pressure.