I love them. Actually, I wanted to travel to Greenland when I get older to study them. Half the people at school I tell that to look at me with a confused face. Hey, you people that don't know what a narwhal is! Give up? It's a whale-like creature that lives in icy waters. They're rare and going extinct! They're beautiful, white, and have horns on their heads. (Actually a tusk) Very magestic, fairytale-like, but actually real. Anyone want to add anything or maybe correct me if something seems wrong? Go do some research on these magnificent creatures! Ha marine biology's FUN
2006-12-01 09:31:52 · 7 answers · asked by Beena W 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Yes. Narwhals are toothed whales, in the family Monodontidae (the same family as the beluga, or white whale -sometimes known as the canary of the sea). The scientific name is Monodon monoceros (which literally translated means 'one tooth one horn').
The male narwhal has a long, spiral tusk formed from its front left incisor tooth that appears like a unicorn's horn, thrust forward in front of the critter. It's thought that narwhal tusks could have been one of the real-world inspirations behind the legend of the unicorn.
The IUCN (International Conservation Union) lists them as DD, for Data Deficient, meaning they currently don't have enough information to determine if they are threatened with extinction or not. They are hunted by both native groups and corporations for food and for their tusks, which without knowing how healthy their populations are, could easily make them vulnerable to extinction.
2006-12-01 09:50:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually I do know what a Narwhal is! and I can tell you an interesting historical fact about them, which is actually how I first learned about the existence of the incredible Narwhal. When I was younger I had a fascination with mythological creatures like Pegasus, Griffons and my favorite the Unicorn. I was doing research on possible proof of thier existence and I found out that the tusk of a rare whale called the Narwhal was often falsely claimed as genuine Unicorn's horn. I thought that was quite interesting that although unicorns are mythical a real marine creature exists with a single long spiral horn(tusk). I mean imagining a horselike creature with such a horn is bizarre enough but the real sea creatures that have such a horn are even more unique and bizarre than the imaginary one! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicorn#The_narwhal
http://members.aol.com/puffindog/narwhal.html
http://www.narwhal.org/UnicornMyth.html
http://www.unicornlady.net/treasures.html
2006-12-01 15:55:45 · answer #2 · answered by Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a narwhal is a cetacean (whale, dolphin, porpoise) very like a beluga whale and only the male has a tusk
2006-12-01 11:23:13 · answer #3 · answered by comic book guy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course!
Featuring, as it does in the extremely famous and popular song 'Rock Lobster' by the B52s!
I can't believe it appears in any other song though... I challenge you to find it!
2006-12-01 09:40:38 · answer #4 · answered by poleydee 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narwhal
2006-12-01 09:39:07 · answer #5 · answered by doctorevil64 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
go to
2006-12-01 10:42:31 · answer #6 · answered by dianed33 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't understand why you answered your own question....
2006-12-01 09:40:29 · answer #7 · answered by beetlejuice49423 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋