The Narwhal’s Mysterious Tusk | National Geographic

a pot of narwhals comes bobbing into a

a pot of narwhals comes bobbing into a small bay created by a crack in Arctic

small bay created by a crack in Arctic

small bay created by a crack in Arctic ice

ice

ice narwhals are unique species of whale why

narwhals are unique species of whale why

narwhals are unique species of whale why unique because narwhals have a horn that

unique because narwhals have a horn that

unique because narwhals have a horn that can grow as long as nine feet it looks

can grow as long as nine feet it looks

can grow as long as nine feet it looks kind of like a tusks and it’s actually

kind of like a tusks and it’s actually

kind of like a tusks and it’s actually an overgrown tooth that grows to a hole

an overgrown tooth that grows to a hole

an overgrown tooth that grows to a hole in the narwhals upper lip no one knows

in the narwhals upper lip no one knows

in the narwhals upper lip no one knows why they have this tusk

why they have this tusk

why they have this tusk they use it for jousting but it doesn’t

they use it for jousting but it doesn’t

they use it for jousting but it doesn’t seem to serve any evolutionary purpose

seem to serve any evolutionary purpose

seem to serve any evolutionary purpose the narwhal is often travel in small

the narwhal is often travel in small

the narwhal is often travel in small numbers but today with the rumor of

numbers but today with the rumor of

numbers but today with the rumor of Arctic cod under these waters the

Arctic cod under these waters the

Arctic cod under these waters the narwhals cod might swell to over a

narwhals cod might swell to over a

narwhals cod might swell to over a hundred but they’re taking a big risk

hundred but they’re taking a big risk

hundred but they’re taking a big risk the ice is still shifting here and they

the ice is still shifting here and they

the ice is still shifting here and they could get hemmed in in fact that’s

could get hemmed in in fact that’s

could get hemmed in in fact that’s exactly what happens without warning

exactly what happens without warning

exactly what happens without warning their access to the open sea closes off

their access to the open sea closes off

their access to the open sea closes off the narwhals are trapped here you can

the narwhals are trapped here you can

the narwhals are trapped here you can get a good look at that tusk a tusk that

get a good look at that tusk a tusk that

get a good look at that tusk a tusk that was sold by hunters centuries ago as a

was sold by hunters centuries ago as a

was sold by hunters centuries ago as a unicorn horn for ten times its way

unicorn horn for ten times its way

unicorn horn for ten times its way in gold the entire pod has to bob up in

in gold the entire pod has to bob up in

in gold the entire pod has to bob up in this tiny pool of water if the hole

this tiny pool of water if the hole

this tiny pool of water if the hole closed over they’d have to swim under

closed over they’d have to swim under

closed over they’d have to swim under the ice until they found air it’s

the ice until they found air it’s

the ice until they found air it’s possible they wouldn’t before the lack

possible they wouldn’t before the lack

possible they wouldn’t before the lack of oxygen children

then as suddenly as it closed the ice

then as suddenly as it closed the ice moves again clearing away out of this

moves again clearing away out of this

moves again clearing away out of this trap and they’re free free to resume

trap and they’re free free to resume

trap and they’re free free to resume their hunts for shrimpy fish and squid

their hunts for shrimpy fish and squid

their hunts for shrimpy fish and squid free to just free to do well whatever

free to just free to do well whatever

free to just free to do well whatever else they do with that mysterious tusk