PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

This whale has a very long tusk, which grows up to 9 feet long. We are not sure what it is used for, but we do know that it is not used for hunting.

The narwhal looks like a  beluga and is considered small when compared to other whales. It grows to about 10 to 20 feet long, and weighs about 1 ton.

Narwhal means "corpse whale" because it often swims upside down, and sometimes becomes motionless for minutes at a time.

HABITAT AND LIFE CYCLE

Narwhals are social animals, who usually travel in pods of about 10 up to 100 whales.  They are only found in the Arctic.

The narwhal feeds mainly on squid and northern fish such as halibut and flatfish.

Not much else is known about the life cycle, and social and breeding behavior of the narwhal.
 

Page last updated on September 6, 2001