Legends about unicorns have been around by word of mouth since ancient times, although they are probably inspired by the narwhal. East marine animal is characterized by having a very colorful horn right in the front part of its headFor this reason it has been linked to magic and the mystical. However, the origin of the narwhal horn goes beyond that, it is an evolutionary part of the species that has become one of the most admired by man and known as the marine unicorn.
The narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is a species of cetacean odontocene It inhabits the icy waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic. It is extremely special, as it is the only member of the genus Monodon and one of the two species in the taxonomic family along with the beluga. The narwhal is characterized by its sexual dimorphism, which means that there is a physiognomic difference between females and males.
The main difference is that the males they have a horn, which is actually a fang, very long and twisted right at the front of his head. It is a kind of horn that can measure up to two meters and reach an approximate weight of 10 kilograms. And although magical qualities have been attributed to it and myths have arisen around its horn, it is actually an organ that helps males to develop various functions.
What is the narwhal horn used for?
There are various investigations in this regard and from the conclusions, it seems that the narwhal horn does not have a single function, but is used for various purposes. A study from the University of Manitoba in Canada found a correlation between testicular mass and horn length. The larger the testicular sac was, the greater the length of the horns present only in males. In this sense, it is suggested that one of the functions of its large tusk is to attract females in order to reproduce and guarantee the survival of the species.
But it is not the only function that has been discovered about this intriguing tusk. Other research from Harvard University found that male narwhals they use their protruding tusks as a kind of sensor that warns them about the conditions of the water. They reached this conclusion by observing the structure of the tusk, which, unlike other toothed pieces, is not covered by enamel, so water penetrates directly into it. The water advances through a kind of tubules to the base of the tusk where millions of nerve endings in the dental pulp are finally excited that will send information to the narwhal’s brain. From this action, narwhals can determine parameters about water conditions such as temperature and salinity.
A functional tool
Although there seems to be more functions that narwhals give to their horn. Recent drone recordings have revealed that sea unicorns also use their giant tusk as a kind of tool to hunt fish. Footage filmed in Tremblay Sound in Canada, demonstrated for the first time that Narwhals bludgeon their prey with their horns until they are stunned just before devouring them.
So while this evolutionary advantage appears to stem from sexual dimorphism, it’s not the only role it plays. The narwhal’s horn is more complex than was believed in the past and makes this cetacean one of the most intriguing on the planet.
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