One of the most fascinating creatures in the ocean is the narwhal. This arctic whale can be recognized by its single spiraled tusk that extends six to nine feet out of its upper jaw (“Morning Edition”). The scientific name for the narwhal, Monodon monoceros is Latin for “one tooth, one horn”. However, the narwhal actually has two teeth and no horns (“Narwhal.org”). In the male narwhal, the left tooth grows into the spiral tusk that is often mistakenly referred to as a “horn”. In rare cases a double-tusk will grow. In general, females do not grow tusks. Their teeth will usually stay shorter than 15 centimeters (“Narwhals”).
For years, several theories existed as to why the narwhals have a horn. The uses on the list include: breaking ice, hunting, defense, transmitting sound, piercing the hulls of ships, poking seabeds for food, and establishing dominance, among others. However, recently scientists from Harvard and the National Institute of Standards and Technology used an electron microscope to scan a narwhal tusk. They found over 10 million nerve endings and now believe that the tusk is used as a sensory organ to detect salinity and temperature changes in the arctic waters (Broad).
In addition to the tusk, the narwhals have many other amazing physical features, although they are definitely not as prominent as their spiral tooth. Narwhals are stocky creatures with small round heads. The word “narwhal” comes from the Danish and Norse for “corpse” due to their mottled coloring (Harper). Male narwhals can grow up to 16 feet long (this does not include their tooth) weigh 1.8 tons, while females are slightly smaller at 13 feet and one ton (“Enchanted Learning”).
The narwhal is one of three whales (the others being the beluga, and...
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...Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth April 6, 2011; Last revised Date April 14, 2011; Retrieved August 20, 2011
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The nature of the long- necked seal is very shy and they have retiring behavior, the features and geography of the Loch Ness fully support the animal’s reluctance and timid actions. The animals are more likely to appear on warmer days, this also results in the appearance of people which can account for the recorded findings in Scotland. The speed of these animals, over twenty knots, can also account for why their identity can be mistaken for other animals or why there are so many theories (Shovlin 28). A Weddell seal, a species of Antarctic seal, have been known to hyper oxygenate their blood stream for long dives, up to half an hour below the freezing ice. This relates to the long-necked seal because it illustrates how they could have survived the freezing temperatures of the loch for so long, and with being below the surface it accounts for the rare sightings (Shucker). The mystery of Loch Ness is slowly, but surely being uncovered by new scientific findings and the piecing together of well- known
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The Narwhal is a whale and is also known as the unicorn of the sea. It is in the family of bottlenose dolphins, orcas, and Belugas (World Wildlife Fund). The scientific name for the Narwhal is Monodon monoceros and it is Greek meaning one-tooth, one-horn. It can grow up to 13-16 feet in length and weighs almost 2 tons (4,000 pounds). The region they are usually located is around the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. They are known as unicorns of the sea because they have a tusk, one of their teeth, coming out of the front of the skull. According to the World Wildlife fund (2014), “Males most commonly have tusks, and some may even have two. The tusk, which can grow as long as 10 feet, is actually an enlarged tooth.” The female does not usually grow tusks. The tusks are ivory, and that is one major reason why Narwhals are hunted since ivory is worth a lot of money.
Orcinus orca is the scientific name for the massive marine mammal. Orcas are not rare, but have declining numbers in some areas (Martin.) Orcas are found from the Artic Ocean to the Antartic Ocean. (Britannica) They belong to the Delphinidae, or dolphin family, which is the largest of their species. Female orcas grow to be at the most 15 feet, and weigh up to 4 tons, but the males can grow as large as 20-30 feet, and weight up to 8 tons. (Martin) The color of the orca is white in some spots, black on the majority of the body, and gray just behind the dorsal fin. It is white on the chin, belly and the eye. The white patch above the eye is usually mistaken for the eye, and may confuse their prey, but acts as a camouflage for the eye. The name “killer whale” makes people tend to believe that this is a viscious man-eating mammal, yet it is one of the most shrewd, docile and playful species of the marine mammals. The orca is sexually mature at 10-15 years of age, much like humans, which is 12-13 years of age. They tend to mate year round, and is able to have a calf every two years. It is interesting to know that lactation of the mother lasts 12 or more months (Wynne.) The life expectancy of orcas is 45-50 years of age.
Narwhals are toothed whales that are primarily located in the arctic. The protruding tusk located in the front of the narwhal is often mistaken for a horn but, it is actually a canine tooth. Excluding the tusk both genders of narwhals can grow anywhere between 8-13 feet in length. The narwhal can also weigh up to almost 2 tons. Narwhals are mammals just like any other whale, but Narwhal's don't have dorsal fins on their back and their neck vertebrate is fused unlike most whales.
- Pagano, A. M., G. M. Durner, S. C. Amstrup, K. S. Simac, and G. S. York. 2012. Long-distance swimming by polar bears (Ursus maritimus) of the southern Beaufort Sea during years of extensive open water: Canadian Journal of Zoology 90:663-676. doi: 10.1139/z2012-033http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/z2012-033#.UxOE1ZWPLoo
In 2000, Dr. Philip D. Gingerich, a paleontologist from the University of Michigan, and his associates discovered two primitive whale fossils in the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. By dating the limestone located in the Habib Rahi Formation of the Balochistan Province, Gingerich estimated these fossils to be about 47 million years old. According to author David Braun of National Geographic News, “The researchers have classified one, Rodhocetus balochistanensis, as a new species of an existing genus, and the other, Artiocetus clavis, as a new species and new genus” (Braun, 5). The discovery of these two fossils suggests that the closest living relative of these primitive whales could possibly be the modern day hippopotamus. This suggested relationship is based on similarities in the bone structure between the two animals.
Robertson, Jessica. "www.galleryusgs.gov/audios/197." 18 July 2008. USGS Science for a changing world. artical. 21 March 2014.
...The use of sonar directly impacted the melon-headed whale and indirectly hurt the whale industry because the use of sonar killed 100s of melon-headed whales that could’ve been seen on an average whale-watching trip.
Orcas, or killer whales are majestic giants of the sea. They are actually the largest type of dolphin. They have long black bodies with distinct white patches near their eyes. A killer whale can be up to 32 feet or more in length, and weigh up to 12,000 pounds. Females are a bit smaller, but live longer (Gorman). The name “killer whale” apparently came not because it is a vicious whale, but because it preys on whales. They do not have any natural predators, and they are considered the “top dog” of the ocean. Not even the great white shark stands a chance against these superb killers. “Unlike sharks, killer whales are cautious hunters, sometimes spending hours harassing a 1,000-pound sea lion so it can easily be drowned” (Francis). Orcas use many hunting tactics that are unique to their species, which is what makes them invincible.
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