Kentucky Woman is Shocked to Discover Narwhals Are Real
OK, so I have a confession that makes me feel a little dumb, to be honest. I learned something the other day that shocked me. I am 37 years old and just discovered that Narwhals are real. You know those underwater whale-like creatures with giant horns on their heads? Yeah, I totally thought they were mythological creatures like unicorns.
Am I alone in this? I don't even know that I had heard or read about them until the claymation Narwhal popped up in the movie Elf to say...
So when I came across an article about the reason why Narwhals aren't kept in aquariums, I thought, "Well, of course, they're not because they aren't real." Imagine my surprise when I found out how wrong I was.
Are Narwhals Real?
Lo and behold, they are! According to the World Wildlife Federation,
Often dubbed the unicorns of the sea, narwhals are strange and beautiful creatures with long tusks protruding from their heads. Members of the population of more than 80,000 can weigh up to 4,200 pounds and grow as long as 17 feet in length.
These strange sea creatures live in Arctic waters which makes sense as to why Mr. Narwhal from Elf is seen living in the North Pole. Narwhals can weigh up to 4200 pounds and grow up to 17 feet in length. Their speckled gray skin turns more white as they age.
Their tusks can grow up to 10 feet long and are actually considered a tooth! Most commonly found on the male species of Narwhal, scientists aren't quite sure what purpose it serves.
The tusks have millions of nerve endings which they believe can sense the salt water concentration to detect where they should travel. Some believe it is a way for them to attract a mate. Narwhals eat fish, squid, and shrimp and contrary to popular belief, they don't skewer them. They suck them up like a vacuum.
Luckily, this majestic and mysterious animal is not at risk of extinction. Their biggest threats are oil and gas development and climate change, but the World Wildlife Federation tracks them by satellite and studies their patterns and behaviors.
Well, there you go! You learn something new every day. Or maybe you already knew this and I somehow missed the memo my whole life! Let me know, did you know Narwhals are real?