Narwhal

__Monodon monoceros__

 * **Domain** || Eukaria ||
 * **Kingdom** || Animalia ||
 * **Phylum** || Chordata ||
 * **Class** || Mammalia ||
 * **Order** || Catacea ||
 * **Family** || Monodontidae ||
 * **Genus** || Monodon ||
 * **Species** || monoceros ||

**__Habitat:__**
Narwhals are one of the rarest whale speciecs and can be found in groups of 20-30 within the Atlantic portion of the Arctic ocean. There are high concentrations of narwhals in the Canadian High Arctic, Baffin Bay, Davis Straight, and northern Hudson Bay. Lower concentrations of narwhals can be located from the Greenland Sea to Svalbard and to Severnaya Zemla. The Arctic ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the worlds 5 main oceans. The top layer (about 50m) of the arctic ocean usually has a lower salinity and tempurature than the rest of the ocean. During the summer, Narwhals travel close to the coasts and travel farther away as the freeze begins to set in. They spend their winters in packed ice and thrive in leads and small holes in the ice.



__Species Interaction:__
Scientists are unsure of all of the eating habits narwhals have because they prefer waters that are far off-shore, covered in ice, where they eat at great depths in complete darkness. However, their prey has been examined by harvesting dead narwhals throughout all narwhal distribution locations. From examination, it can be concluded that narwhals eat squid, cod, halibut, and shrimp. Narwhals are sometimes eaten by polar bears, orcas, and, occasionally, even humans. Humans even harvest them for their long tusks. Narwhals are one of the few whale species in the world that do not migrate regularly so they only interact with the species that live in its habitat.

__Reproduction:__
Since narwhals are one of the rarest whale species in the world, therefore not much is known about the purpose of their tusks. However, some researchers believe that the males use their tusks to 'joust' against other males for control of the females. Two males will come to the surface with their tusks crossed (similar to a sword fight) and some come out of these competitions heavily scarred. Females reach sexually maturity at 4-7 years of age while males reach maturity at 8-9 years. The gestation period lasts from about 15-16 months. Females give birth only every 3 years or so to a single calf that tends born with no brown spots. The calf will usually weigh 180 lbs and be 5 ft. long. A narwhal calf will stay with its mother for about 20 months before venturing off on its own to live for about 50 more years.

__Narwhal Tusks:__
The purpose of the narwhal's 9 foot long tusk has been a mystery that has baffled scientists for centuries. Humans harvested their horns and sold them as "unicorn horns" for 10 times their weight in gold many years ago since they were believed to contain magical powers. Several theories for the use of a narwhal tusk have been created.
 * breaking ice
 * spearing fish
 * piercing fish
 * transmitting sound
 * shedding excess body heat
 * poking the sea bed for food
 * attracking mates
 * defending young
 * establishing dominance in social hierarchie[[image:mthsecology/tusks.jpg align="left" caption="Narwhal Tusks"]]