The narwhal, also known as a 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 family Monodontidae, along with the beluga whale.
Some narwhals have up to two tusks, while others have none. The spiraled tusk juts from the head and can grow as long at 10 feet.
- Conservation status: Near Threatened
- Species: M. monoceros
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Artiodactyla
- Family: Monodontidae
- Genus: Monodon; Linnaeus, 1758
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Weight: 1.5 tons
- Size: 13 to 20 feet