Narwhal: quick facts
The narwhal is a medium-sized Arctic toothed whale famous for the long spiral tusk grown by most males — an enlarged tooth that earned it the nickname 'unicorn of the sea'. It lives among high-Arctic pack ice, dives extremely deep to feed, and is the beluga's closest relative.
Scientific name
Monodon monoceros
Group
Toothed whale
Length
About 4–4.5 m (excl. tusk)
Weight
Up to ~1,600 kg
Lifespan
~50 years (possibly 80+)
Diet
Greenland halibut, Arctic cod, squid
Range
High Arctic — Baffin Bay, Greenland, Canadian Arctic
Population
~120,000+ mature
Conservation
Least Concern
Sources: IUCN Red List — Narwhal (Monodon monoceros); NOAA Fisheries — Narwhal. Educational information only. See our sources & fact-check policy.