Size & Appearance

Though large, narwhals are among the smallest of the whale species. Males average around sixteen feet in length, weighing in at about 1.8 tons on average. Females, at around thirteen feet, weigh only a ton.

Narwhals are most closely related to beluga whales. Like the beluga, their bodies are rounded and robust, with a bulbous forehead. Unique to the narwhal, however, is the unusually long upper left tooth. In males, this tooth grows out from the front of the jaw in a straight, tapered, spiral tusk up to three metres (nine feet) long. Occasionally a female will develop a tusk, and in even rarer cases, narwhals of either sex are found with two tusks.

The purpose of this tusk is not known. Some believe that it might be a secondary sexual characteristic, used in aggressive displays among males. Others believe that it is used in a more utilitarian manner, perhaps to break through ice, defend against sharks, or skewer prey.