What is a narwhal? A narwhale, or Monodon Monoceros, is a pale-colored porpoise mammal that lives in the Arctic ocean. They weight as much as 1.5 tons and are 13 to 20 feet long. Narwhals grow two teeth. In males, the more prominent tooth grows into a spiral tusk. The tusks grow up to 8.8 feet long. This tusk grows through the narwhal’s upper lip. Females can too grow a small tusk, but it doesn’t get nearly as big as the male’s. The purpose of the tusk is unknown, but scientist believe it is important in mating rituals.
Narwhals are near the top of the food chain, and are directly impacted by the rapid climate change. Studies have shown that narwhals are one of the most vulnerable to the environmental effects of climate change because of increased predation by killer whales and polar bears, and changes to their prey base. Narwhals are also a source of food for some communities in the Artic. Their skin, “maktaq”, is eaten both raw and boiled as a great source of vitamin C in the Inuit of Canada and Greenland. Their tusks are also an essential source of income for Inuit hunters and carvers in some communities. Inuit organizations, scientists, …show more content…
This number is thought to be decreasing and the narwhal population is currently on the near threatened list. They are near threatened because of climate change; the atmosphere is warming up and causing the ice to melt, they are being hunted for food and for their tusks, and because of the lack of ice they have become easier to prey on. Some limiting factors are they are losing their habitat. They live under the ice and the ice is melting. They are losing their food, commercial fishing is taking the fish, shrimp, and squid they eat. They are also being killed illegally for their tusks. Some other things humans do to the narwhals are factories pollute the water the narwhals live in and large ships block their traveling routes and have hit the narwhals
Narwhals are near the top of the food chain, and are directly impacted by the rapid climate change. Studies have shown that narwhals are one of the most vulnerable to the environmental effects of climate change because of increased predation by killer whales and polar bears, and changes to their prey base. Narwhals are also a source of food for some communities in the Artic. Their skin, “maktaq”, is eaten both raw and boiled as a great source of vitamin C in the Inuit of Canada and Greenland. Their tusks are also an essential source of income for Inuit hunters and carvers in some communities. Inuit organizations, scientists, …show more content…
This number is thought to be decreasing and the narwhal population is currently on the near threatened list. They are near threatened because of climate change; the atmosphere is warming up and causing the ice to melt, they are being hunted for food and for their tusks, and because of the lack of ice they have become easier to prey on. Some limiting factors are they are losing their habitat. They live under the ice and the ice is melting. They are losing their food, commercial fishing is taking the fish, shrimp, and squid they eat. They are also being killed illegally for their tusks. Some other things humans do to the narwhals are factories pollute the water the narwhals live in and large ships block their traveling routes and have hit the narwhals