Prehistoric Planet Store - Replica fossils including dinosaurs like T. rex, Triceratops, and more!

The narwhal, or narwhale (Monodon monoceros), is a medium-sized toothed whale and 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 Monodontidae family, along with the beluga whale. The narwhal males are distinguished by a long, straight, helical tusk, which is an elongated upper left canine. The narwhal was one of many species described by Carolus Linnaeus in his publication Systema Naturae in 1758.

For both sexes, excluding the male's tusk, the total body size can range from 13 to 18.0 feet. The average weight of an adult narwhal is 1,800 to 3,500 pounds. Their tusks grow throughout life, reaching lengths up to 10 feet. Narwhals can live up to 50 years old.