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Morell V (30 January 2012). "Killer whale menu finally revealed". Science . Retrieved 24 June 2015.
a b c d e f g h i j Macdonald, D.W.; Barrett, P. (1993). Mammals of Europe. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-09160-0. Although the narwhal’s horn is the reason for its worldwide fame, there’s a lot we don’t know about it, including its purpose. Some theories say it’s a sensory organ because it has millions of tiny holes and nerve endings on the surface. Others believe the tusk is used for social reasons like impressing females and earning a partner. A recent study found that the largest male narwhals had disproportionately long tusks—possibly signalling a connection between sexual dominance and tusks. Because only a few female narwhals grow tusks, they likely aren’t used for hunting or eating. How many narwhals are left?Dives to the depths at which a narwhal goes typically last between 25 and 30 minutes, including the time spent at the bottom and the time spent ascending and descending. According to this, Narwhals can hold their breath for a minimum of 25 minutes. The myth of unicorn horns had circulated around Europe for centuries before his voyage, which faded as European experts become more familiar with the animals. 2 2. Both male & females are born with two small teeth embedded in their skulls, but only in males does the front left tooth grow into a spiral tusk. In one report from the Iqaluit, Nunavut Department of Fisheries and Oceans, an elder explains that in the past, all blubber, meat and even organs were used as food or fuel. Even sinews could be turned into thread for sewing. Narwhal tusks were carved into artworks or sold as-is to support families with few other job opportunities. The purpose of a narwhal’s tusk has been unclear to scientists for quite some time. Charles Darwin believed that male narwhals use their tusks to compete for female mates, and modern researchers also lean towards this theory. Because tusks are only found on male narwhals, they’re likely not used for survival purposes like hunting or eating. However, nerve endings on the tusk’s surface suggest that it has some sensory use. Powdered, the substance was used as an aphrodisiac, a medicine and a poison detector, reported another article from Smithsonian magazine. In their intact, spiraling form, narwhal tusks were carved into utensils, scepters, swords and more. At the height of its trade, Smithsonian wrote, narwhal tusk was worth ten times its weight in gold.
Tagging a narwhal isn’t easy, though, and that’s where traditional knowledge is vital once again. Laidre’s research sometimes requires netting a narwhal, and spending 20 minutes or so attaching a tag and collecting information about the netted whale. To do this, she and her team rely on help from indigenous hunters to catch the whales and then, contrary to the hunters’ usual goals, safely let it go again. Conservation statusLike polar bears, narwhals depend on sea ice and are directly impacted by rapid climate change –studies have shown that they are one of the species most vulnerable to the ecological effects of climate change because of increased predation by killer whales, changes to their prey base, and likely increased risks of entrapment in unpredictable ice conditions. So the researchers look for help from other polar experts: traditional knowledge keepers like local Inuit hunters.
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