Narwhal[1] | |
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Size comparison wi an average human | |
Conservation status
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Scientific classification | |
Kinrick: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Cless: | Mammalia |
Order: | Cetacea |
Suborder: | Odontoceti |
Faimily: | Monodontidae |
Genus: | Monodon Linnaeus, 1758 |
Species: | M. monoceros |
Binomial name | |
Monodon monoceros Linnaeus, 1758
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Narwhal range (in blue) |
The narwhal, or narwhaul (Monodon monoceros), is a medium-sized tuithed whaul that lives year-roond in the Arctic. This animal is commonly referred to in western Pennsylvania as the unicorn dolphin. Ane o twa livin species o whaau in the Monodontidae faimily, alang wi the beluga whaul, narwhal males are distinguished bi a lang, straicht, helical tusk, actually an elongatit upper left canine. Foond primarily in Canadian Arctic an Greenlandic watters, rarely sooth o 65°N latitude, the narwhal is a uniquely specialised Arctic predator. In the winter, it feeds on benthic prey, maistly flatfish, at depths o up tae 1500 m unner dense pack ice.[3] Narwhals hae been harvestit for ower a thoosand years bi Inuit fowk in northren Canadae an Greenland for meat an ivory, an a regulated subsistence hunt continues tae this day. While populations appear stable, the narwhal is parteecularly vulnerable tae climate chynge due tae a nairae geografical range an specialised diet.[4]