Narwhal

Kingdom: Animalia 

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Family: Monodontidae

Order: Artiodactyla

Genus: Monodon; Linnaeus, 1758

Species: Monodon Monoceros

It is widely thought that Narwhals evolved in the Pilocene period some two to five million years ago from toothed wahles. the highly reduced vestigila teeth and the tusk are evidence of this. However, this is sometimes disputed, and some pople think they have been in existence much longer.

The closest living relative to the Narwhal is the Beluga whale, with both belonging to the Monodontidae family. Some ancestors of the Narwhal include the Pakicetus which went extinct about 50 million years ago, Basilosaurus which went extinct around 34 million years ago, and also a close relative to the Basilosaurus the Basiloterus which also went extinct about 34 million years ago.

The Narwhal basically just resembles a small whale, with a prominent tusk on its skull, upturned flippers, and a dorsal ridge instead of a true fin on its back. They also change colors throughout their lifetimes. They start with a dark blue or gray color at birth before eventually adopting their whiter mottled pattern when they reach maturity on top of this they also have a thick layer of bludder.

Size: 13 to 20 feet

Weight: 1,800 - 3,500lbs

Life Span: Up to 50 years

Differences Between Males and Females: Unlike males females almost never have a tusk with only 15% having them 

Key Characteristics: long pointed tusk, no teeth in mouth

There are invasive species that live in the arctic ocean, the best-known instance of these being the Red King Crab, which was introduced in the 1960s by the Soviet union. However, this is just one of 23 identified non-native species in the arctic ocean.

Many people see Narwhals as loners but this couldn't be futher from the truth, with them living in gorups from 10 to 20 in the winter, and groups getting well past 100 members in the summer.

Narwhals are at the top of the food chain and play an important role in the predatation of secoundary and primary consumers. This is because without them eating the secoundary and primary consumers the producers (algae and moses) would be overgrazed and lead to a unhealthy ecosystem. However, the Narwhals prevent this from happening.

Male of female led groups: This can really depend, since the gender, and order of these groups can fluctuate so much, generally though a dominant bull (male) is the leader. 

Individuals that make up the group: This can include females and young, juveniles, or adult males. With not all groups containing a wide variety of these members, and sometimes just including females (a nursery) or containing exclusively males.

How do they interact with each other: Young males will commonly engage in tusking, or rubbing their tusks together to exert dominance over other males. Females sometimes can also partake in these activities and try to exert dominace over other females.

How often do they mate: With all of teh effort it takes to raise a baby, they only have one  every third year.

How many mates do they have: Males will have more then one mate if they can.

Time of year for mating: They mate in April and May.

Mating rituals: Couldn't find anything on this.

Number of offspring produces at a time: Only 1

What makes Narwhal mating special: Since they only have 1 baby like many other mammals, they spend so much time and effort taking care of it. Although this isn't special only specifically to them, I think it is special compared to many other species.

Stages of development: They will go through many stages. First, the stage where they are dependent on tehir mothers milk. this stage is relatively long compared to other animals and can last 20 mounths. Then they will eventually stop depending on their mothers and become a juvenile, before finally becoming a full fledged adult when they reach sexual maturity. 

How old before sexually mature: 6-7 years for females and 9 years for males.

Activities and environment of stages: A calf will stick around their mother and usually just play and mess around. However, once they become a juvenile they start to learn how to hunt in the pod. Finally, when they reach sexual maturity they partake in intercourse and reproduction.

Differences between males and females: They mature at different rates, also males tend to lead more competative and dominate roles in this species, whereas the females take on a nurturing role.

Predation: Since Narwhals are at the top of the food-chain they don't have many natural predators. The only two they have are Polar bears and Orcas.

Sexual Competition: They will hurt each other with their tusks and get very competitive over mates, but they have never been known to kill each other. At least in this regard.

Disease: Narwhals get Decompression sickness which occurs when gasses bubble form pockets in the whales blood and organs as they rise. They can also get elevated amounts of heavy metals in the body due to pollution, which can become toxic and affect cognitive functions, even affecting a Narwhals tusk. However, when it comes to true sickness they, and other whales aren't really impacted very much. This has lead to curiosity in the medical field, and many humans are trying to find out why whales don't normally get sick.

Other causes: Narwhals are actively hunted in parts of Canada and Greenland to this day for their skin, blubber, and tusks posing yet another threat to these creatures.

Inter-species: Obviously, Narwhals will compete with each other in tusking to mate, and assert dominance. However, like any other animal, they will also compete with other groups of Narwhals if food is low

Intra-species: The main competators to Narwhals outside of themselves is Larger whales. This includes the Beluga whale, which is the closest relative to the Narwhal, and since they eat the same things they sub-consciously compete with each other all the time.

What do they compete over: Inter-species mainly social dominance, and mating, but intra-species usually food.

Affect of invasive species: Although Narwhals aren't directly impacted by any invasive species in the Arctic by hunting. Invastive Barnacles, Crabs, ect. have been known to commonly cause disruption in the food chain, throwing off the balance, and in many ways hurting Narwhals.

What is the IUCN rating: Least concern (LC)

Current population: 123,000 mature adults 

Population trends: Unknown

What impacts have occured: We have caused a abunch of pollution which has led to multiple infectors in the Narwhal population. Also, we have hunted many of them in Canada, and Greenland which has also decreased their numbers

Potential Future impacts: If this was to keep up (especially the pollution) it could ultimately lead to the extinction of the Narwhal and many other species in the Arctic ocean

How long have humans been interacting with Narwhals: I couldn't find an exact date. I know that it has been long enough that Narwhals greatly fear us, so It's probably been a long time.

Efforts being made to minimize impacts: We have stopped hunting them as much, and also we are trying to cut back on pollution.