![]() ![]() There are estimated to be 170,000 living narwhals, and the species is listed as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Like most other cetaceans, the narwhal uses clicks, whistles and knocks to communicate with others of its kind. It mates in the offshore pack ice in April or May, and has a gestation lasting for an average of 15 months. The narwhal is one of the deepest-diving marine mammals, with many individuals diving at depths of over 1,500 m (5,000 ft). Its prey mostly consists of Arctogadus glacialis, Boreogadus saida, Greenland halibut, cuttlefish, shrimp, and armhook squid. After this period, it moves to Davis Strait, a journey that spans around 1,700 km (1,100 mi), and it stays there until April. The narwhal typically visits the Baffin Bay, between June and September. It is mostly found in Arctic waters, and is only vulnerable to predatory attacks from polar bears and orcas. Carl Linnaeus scientifically described the species in 1758 in his work Systema Naturae. ![]() It is a social animal, and may associate in groups of up to 20 members. Instead of a dorsal fin, it possesses a shallow dorsal ridge. The most prominent feature of the species is an adult male's long single tusk that can be up to 3 m (9.8 ft). It is a member of the family Monodontidae, and the only species in the genus Monodon. The narwhal ( Monodon monoceros), is a species of toothed whale. The frequent (solid) and rare (striped) occurrence of narwhal populations ![]()
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