The Arctic is full of incredible discoveries. While it is not one of the mythical places around the world, the Arctic Ocean has mythical creatures worth taking to the sea for - or at least that is what many were led to believe. But one of those creatures that many could not fathom existing, does. It is the "unicorn of the sea" but where to see it could prove to be tricky to do.
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It was believed for centuries that unicorns roamed the earth. There was physical proof that unicorns existed when "horns" were presented to royalty. Little did people know during the Middle Ages that these "horns" were not coming from a terrestrial unicorn, but one who lived underwater instead.
The "unicorn of the sea" was the elusive narwhal, who lived in regions those in Europe had never traveled to. This made it easy to trick Europeans into believing magical unicorns was real, because a creature like the narwhal was out of the realm of possibilities of existing.
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Narwhals Are The Unicorn Of The Seas
Narwhals have a tooth that comes out of their head that looks like a long horn, akin to that of unicorns
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Narwhals have been called the "unicorns of the sea" thanks to the horns on their heads. However, that horn is really a tooth that protrudes from the head of the narwhal, and it is the only tooth narwhals have.
In the narwhals' mouths, there are no teeth. The long tooth that comes out of a male narwhal's head can be up to six to 10 feet long. The tooth grows in a counterclockwise spiral for the entirety of its length. It is also the only tooth that grows in a spiral, counterclockwise or other.
Centuries ago, the narwhal tooth or horn, was claimed to belong to unicorns. Sold to Europeans by the Vikings, the horn was so valued that at one point, it was worth more than gold. This was because it was believed that the horn was mystical and could cure ailments of all kinds.
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The narwhal may not be mythical like the unicorn, but it is just as elusive, being incredibly difficult to locate in the wild. But for those in the know where to look, the horn will break the surface of the water and the magical creature will reveal itself, if only briefly, to catch some air before diving below the ice where a majority of the narwhals' lives are spent.
Why Narwhals Have A "Horn"
The reason why narwhals have a horn has been up for debate for years. Many believed it was a sensor for the temperature or current of the water. But, in 2020, many scientists came to the same conclusion that there was one reason why narwhals had a horn, and that had to do with selecting a mate.
Male narwhals are the only ones who have a horn. Much like peacocks and their elaborate feathers, the horn is used to attract mates. The bigger and more ornate the horn, the better chances a male has of procreating.
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According to a study published in Biology Letters, the findings by researchers, including Zackary Graham, are the "best evidence to date" that the horns are indeed used for sexual selection.
"Based on the disproportional growth and large variation in tusk length we found, we provide the best evidence to date that narwhal tusks are indeed sexually selected." - Zackary Graham, et al
Therefore, the horn of male narwhals is more than ornamental. It is how the next generation of narwhals is created.
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Where Narwhals Can Be Seen
Narwhals live in the Arctic and are best seen during their summering months
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Unlike other whales that have been kept in captivity, narwhals cannot. Any attempts to keep narwhals in captivity have led to their death, in some instances, just days after being put in an exhibit. As such, the only way to see narwhals is to see them in the wild.
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During the winter months, narwhals live in areas away from the coast that are up to 95% covered in thick ice. Where many animals would perish in an environment like this, narwhals live for tens of decades, with the winter months spent in the Arctic waters near Norway, Greenland, Canada, and Russia.
This makes the best time to see narwhals during their summering months. During this time, narwhals come closer to shore, and the ice is far less than it was beginning of the fall and into the winter.
But, with narwhals being very elusive animals, it is not always easy to spot them. This is especially true on a boat, as the motor can scare them off. As such, on the shore in the summering areas near estuaries in the Arctic where narwhals are feeding is the best area to see one in the wild.
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How Climate Change May Affect The Narwhal
Narwhals pay close attention to the ocean for their migration and with the oceans getting warmer, this is affected
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The narwhal is perhaps one of the most reliant animals on sea ice. In areas where many animals cannot live, narwhals thrive.
However, because the sea ice impacts everything that the narwhals do, the stability of the ice is incredibly important. Climate change affects areas all over the world. This includes the Arctic, which is home to countries with some of the most insane climates. Climate change is making summer seasons longer and winter seasons unpredictable, everything the narwhal does, from migrating to breeding, feeding, and even breathing, is affected.
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In the past, narwhals knew when summer was coming to an end and when winter would begin as the waters at their summering locations decreased in temperature or would even begin to form thin layers of ice. The narwhals would then start their journeys back to their winter homes before the ice layers there got too thick.
Unfortunately, with summer seasons lasting longer, narwhals are not receiving the proper signal that it is time to return to their winter homes until several weeks after they would in the past. Leaving later has led to narwhals getting stuck in leads or the only areas in the ice where there is an air pocket. If too many narwhals get stuck in these areas, the leads become entrapments, and the narwhals can die.
The unpredictability of the currents, the wind, and the temperature can shift where the leads are, as well as how big they are. When this happens, the narwhals are at risk of drowning if air pockets cannot be found.
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Additionally, the Arctic waters staying warmer longer is inviting in killer whales. This leads to the killer whales feeding on the narwhals and beluga whales that live in the region.
Between this and the changing ice, there is the possibility that the narwhals could change their course when it comes to their breeding and summering grounds, which could impact the overall population of narwhals in the future.