Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758

Narwhal


Species recognized by The Integrated Taxonomic Information System external link, T Orrell (custodian) in 
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT) external link Showing: scientific names

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Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758

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Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758
Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758
Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)
Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758
Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758
Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758
Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758
Monodon monoceros
Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758

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Classification:

Overview

Biology

Source and Additional Information
Supplier
Attribution
Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008
Indexed
March 19, 2010

Narwhals live in groups of two to ten individuals which may congregate with other groups to form herds of hundreds of individuals (3). They move very slowly and erratically when hunting, searching for fish, squid and shrimps during dives of between 7 and 20 minutes. They are very vocal, clicking and squeaking whilst travelling. Like many cetaceans, surfacing narwhals slap their flippers against the surface and raise their heads and tusks out of the water (9). Narwhals are thought to migrate annually and in very large groups, moving to spend the winter within the heavy pack ice of the Arctic. Predators of narwhals include Greenland sharks, orcas, polar bears, and walruses (3). Mating takes place between March and May and gestation lasts around 15 months, with births in July and August of the following year. The calves are born tail first and males do not grow their tusks until they have been weaned at around one year of age. Females give birth just once every three years (3).
"Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/328542". Accessed 30 Jul 2010.