Narwhal

Classification

Narwhals also known as narwhale are a medium sized toothed whale. Normally, they live year round in the Arctic waters around Greenland, Canada and Russia. They belong to the family of Monodontidae.

Appearance

Their appearance is a cross between a unicorn and a whale. They have a long, spiraled tusk jutting from their head. Commonly male narwhals have tusks, while others find a miracle to be born with 2 tusks. Narwhals tusk is actually an enlarged tooth that can grow longer than 10 feet.

Habitat

Narwhals live around the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. They survive in the oceans with their deep water adaptions aid. Once their rib cage compresses, their lungs 'collapse,' and the air inside is channelled into their trachea system, Narwhals have a flexible rib cage, enabling their bodies to be highly compressed.

Lifespan & Reproduction

Narwhals live up to at least 25 - 50 years old. 13-16 months after gestation, Narwhals give birth to a single calf in summer usually around July and August. At birth calves are 176.4 pounds ( 80kg ) and 5.2 feet in length.

Diet

Narwhals are carnivores that feed themselves in Greenland on halibut, polar cod, squid, shrimp, and other deep-sea fish that are often really hard to find. Usually, they do their chomping at the ice floe edge and the ice-free summer waters. On average narwhals eat between 20-25 pounds of food a day which is 11kg.

Conclusion

Depending on the narwhal's age, narwhals can change colours. Narwhals are known to swim up to 160km per day while migrating. 60km per day averages out to about 6.5km per hour. Narwhals are one of the deepest diving marine animals, that can dive up to at least 1,500m ( 4,500ft) lasting almost about 25 minutes underwater. Narwhals spend more than 3 hours a day below 800m depths.

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