Narwhal

Description

The narwhal (Monodon monoceros),or narwhale,is a medium-sized toothed whale that possesses a large "tusk" from a protruding canine tooth.It lives year-round in the Arctic waters around Greenland,Canada,and Russia.It is one of two living species of whale in the Monodontidae family,along with the beluga whale.The narwhal males are distinguished by a long,straight,helical tusk,which is an elongated upper left canine.The narwhal was one of many species described by Carl Linnaeus in his publication Systema Naturae in 1758.Narwhals are medium-sized whales,and are around the same size as beluga whales.Total length in both sexes,excluding the tusk of the male,can range from 3.95 to 5.5 m (13 to 18 ft).Males,at an average length of 4.1 m (13.5 ft),are slightly larger than females,with an average length of 3.5 m (11.5 ft).Typical adult body weight ranges from 800 to 1,600 kg (1,760 to 3,530 lb).Male narwhals attain sexual maturity at 11 to 13 years of age,when they are about 3.9 m (12.8 ft) long.Females become sexually mature at a younger age,between 5 and 8 years old,when they are around 3.4 m (11.2 ft) long