Narwhals are famous for unique, spiraled tusks that protrude from their upper lips, earning them the nickname “unicorns of the sea.” But scientists have long been baffled by the tusks, unsure of exactly what function they serve. That is, until now. A newly published scientific research study aims to demystify the narwhal tusk using rare drone footage of wild narwhals actually using their tusks in over a dozen different ways.
“Despite the universal fascination with the tusk of the narwhal, the function of this long, spiraled tooth is still debated, primarily because few people have observed how narwhals (Monodon monoceros) use their tusks in the wild,” writes researchers in the new study. “Using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), we recorded previously unreported interactions between multiple narwhals, Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) in Canada’s High Arctic.”
Researchers say that while chasing char, narwhals used their tusks to “hit, manipulate, and influence” the behavior of fish. Narwhals not only used their tusks for prey capture but also for exploration and play.
Florida Atlantic University posted clips of the rare drone footage to YouTube, saying: “Using drones, 17 distinct behaviors of narwhals were captured in the wild. Findings reveal complex behaviors of the Arctic’s iconic whale never seen before. This highly gregarious whale uses its tusk to investigate, manipulate and influence the behavior of a fish, the Arctic char. The study also provides the first evidence of play, specifically exploratory-object play, and the first reports of kleptoparasitism, a ‘food thief’ situation, among narwhals and glaucous gulls.”
See the rare narwhal footage here:
Header image is a screenshot from the video by O’Corry-Crowe, FAU/Watt, DFO