Narwhals
By: Coby and Gabbi
Range
They live year-round in the Arctic around Greenland, Canada and Russia.
Appearance
The one thing that makes Narwhals very recognizable is a very long tusk jutting out of it's face (but only on the males). They believe that is a canine tooth but others say it is a responsive organ. They are medium sized whales, with the males being slightly larger than females. the average weight is 1,800 to 3,500 lbs. They have a mottled pattern with blackish-brown markings over a white background. They are darkest when born and whiten over age. Unlike most other whales and dolphins, their neck vertebrae is jointed instead of being fused.
Diet
In winter, it feeds on benthic prey, mostly flatfish, under dense pack ice. During the summer they eat Arctic cod and Greenland halibut, and other fish to make up the remainder.
Threats
The main threat to Narwhals are not other animals but nature itself. During the winter, ice freezes over creating the Arctic ice and they will begin to suffocate. Another threat is simply starvation for babies since there is a lack of food.
Reproduction
Females reach sexual maturity at 6 to 8 years old. Males mate in April or May when they are in the offshore pack ice. Gestation lasts for 14 months and calves are born between June and August the following year. Only a single young will be born.
Communication
As like other whales, they use sound to navigate and hunt for food. "Clicks", "knocks" and "whistles" may be created via air between chambers near the blow-hole, and reflected off the sloping front of the skull. "Click trains" are produced both for echo-location of prey, and for locating obstacles at short distances.