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Whacky Wednesday: Weird and wonderful narwhal
Often dubbed the unicorns of the sea, narwhals are strange and beautiful creatures with long tusks protruding from their heads.
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The narwhal is the unicorn of the sea, a pale-coloured porpoise found in Arctic coastal waters and rivers. These legendary animals have two teeth. In males, the more prominent tooth grows into a sword like, spiral tusk up to 8.8 feet (2.7 meters) long. The ivory tusk tooth grows right through the narwhal’s upper lip. Scientists are not certain of the tusk’s purpose, but some believe it is prominent in mating rituals, perhaps used to impress females or to battle rival suitors. Females sometimes grow a small tusk of their own, but it does not become as prominent as the male’s.