Linnaeus, C (1758). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata (in Latin). Holmiae. (Laurentii Salvii). p.824. Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). (2012c). Evaluation of Baffin Bay narwhal hunt sustainability. DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/038. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/SAR-AS/2012/2012_038-eng.html In management area 3 – Tasiilaq, south of 67°N – the population model also estimated a small depleted aggregation (down to 25% of the historical population estimate). This aggregation was also considered so small that it could not sustainable any current removals (NAMMCO 2019a,b). The area north of Scoresby Sound is a National Park. It is the largest protected area in the world and includes protection of the sea up to 3 nautical miles from the shoreline. Northeast Greenland is therefore not part of the hunting grounds for narwhals, although narwhals from this area may be supplying the hunt in regions further south. The Northeast Water polynya can be an important habitat in winter. There is, however, little documentation of the population abundance and distribution in this area. A dedicated aerial survey was conducted in Northeast Greenland (covering the Northeast Water polynya) in March/April 2017. Narwhals were detected twice during this survey and no abundance estimation was made on this low sighting rate.

Choose sustainable seafood options that do not contribute to overfishing, which can negatively impact the narwhal’s food sources. Or, switch to a plant-based diet and eschew animal-derived foods entirely. A savsaat in 2008 in Eclipse Sound saw more than 600 narwhals entrapped. 629 narwhals were harvested from the savsaat, but more animals may have drowned (DFO 2008). Such a large entrapment of animals is rare in Nunavut, having been recorded only once before in the previous century (Heide-Jørgensen et al. 2002). The most conspicuous characteristic of the male narwhal is a single long tusk, which is in fact a canine tooth [19] [20] that projects from the left side of the upper jaw, through the lip and forms a left-handed helical spiral. The tusk grows throughout life, reaching a length of about 1.5 to 3.1m (4.9 to 10.2ft). It is hollow and weighs around 10kg (22lb). About one in 500 males has two tusks, occurring when the right canine also grows out through the lip. Only about 15 per cent of females grow a tusk, [21] which typically is smaller than a male tusk, with a less noticeable spiral. [22] [23] [24] There is only one known case of a female growing a second tusk; the specimen (right) was collected in 1684. [25] At times, a bull narwhal may rub its tusk with another bull, a display known as "tusking" [28] [36] and thought to maintain social dominance hierarchies. [36] However, this behaviour may exhibit tusk use as a sensory and communication organ for sharing information about water chemistry sensed in tusk microchannels. [27] [28] Migration

Interesting Narwhal Facts

Heide-Jørgensen, M.P., Laidre, K.L., Burt, M.L., Borchers, D.L., Marques, T.A., Hansen, R.G., Rasmussen, M. and Fossette, S. (2010). Abundance of narwhals ( Monodon monoceros) on the hunting grounds in Greenland. Journal of Mammalogy, 91, 1135-1151. https://doi.org/10.1644/09-MAMM-A-198.1 The narwhal, also known as a narwhale ( Monodon monoceros), is a medium-sized toothed whale that lives year-round in Arctic waters around Greenland, Canada and Russia. It is one of two living species of whale in the family Monodontidae, along with the beluga whale, and the only species in the genus Monodon. The narwhal males are distinguished by a long, straight, helical tusk, which in actuality is an oversized canine tooth. On the other hand, females rarely possess this feature; an example of sexual dimorphism. The narwhal was one of many species described by Carl Linnaeus in his publication Systema Naturae in 1758.

The effects of ship noise, seismic exploration, drilling, and other sounds on narwhals have been largely unstudied, but could include short- or long-term changes in behaviour, such as feeding activities and vocalisation. Noise could also induce avoidance responses and changes in migratory timing and routes. Extremely loud sounds, such as those produced by seismic exploration, have the potential to directly damage narwhal hearing if they occur at close range, in addition to masking environmental sounds that may be important to narwhals. Narwhals have been observed to react to vessel noise even at long distance and low sound intensity, generally by leaving the area and reducing their vocalisations. Laidre, K.L. and Heide-Jørgensen, M.P. (2005b). Winter feeding intensity of narwhals ( Monodon monoceros). Marine Mammal Science, 21, 45-57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2005.tb01207.x The name of the species derives from the Old Norse word nar, which means corpse. This is a reference to the animal’s pale skin. An alternative name for the species is narwhale or narwhal.

Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). (2012b). Advice on total allowable landed catch for the Baffin Bay narwhal population. DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/021. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/SAR-AS/2012/2012_021-eng.html a b Officer, L. H.; Williamson, S. H. (2014). "Purchasing Power of British Pounds from 1270 to Present". MeasuringWorth. a b Ravetch, Adam (12 May 2017). "How narwhals use their tusks". World Wildlife Fund . Retrieved 17 May 2017. Due to a slight rise in population, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has moved narwhals from “near threatened” to “least concern” status. As of 2017, the last time the IUCN evaluated narwhals’ endangered status, the global narwhal population was an estimated 123,000.