Unusual Unicorn.

Posted by gail in Animal on May 17, 2007 at 9:34 am


narwhal

Narwhals usually have one horn apiece, but this fellow has bagged a double. (AFP photo)

People have generally assumed that narwhal horns were used for defense, but according to an article in  Le Figaro, scientists still aren’t in agreement:


A research group including specialists in cetaceans as well as dentists are exploring other assumptions. One of their favorites would be a sensory probe. In the support of this theory is the presence of 10 million nerve endings in the pulp of the gigantic tooth. The narwhal could thus detect the salinity of water, its temperature or its pressure, and also the presence of its favorite prey animals. [my translation]

See also Alex’s 2005 post on the Super Sensing Tusk of the Unicorn Whale.


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COMMENT

11 comments to "Unusual Unicorn."

  1. Solo
    May 17th, 2007 at 11:47 am

    From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narwhal

    "About one in 500 males has two tusks"

  2. Britt
    May 17th, 2007 at 12:15 pm

    Woo!

  3. Jason Ellis
    May 17th, 2007 at 3:50 pm

    That guy looks like Clint Howard.

  4. Tim Giachetti
    May 17th, 2007 at 3:53 pm

    I realize that killing whales feeds these people. But some one should shove one of them horns up that mukluk chewing guys arse.
    Worse than a redneck with a 300 pound deer. Rare thing to kill, only approve of it because I'm a staunch "eat what you kill" old school woodsman.
    But why such a rare and magnifacient animal?

  5. Tim Giachetti
    May 17th, 2007 at 3:55 pm

    Clint Howard,yet appears in another low budget picture. heheheheh great observation Jason. Funny as hell!

  6. gail
    May 17th, 2007 at 3:59 pm

    I know what you mean, Tim. I'm very queasy about the idea of hunting narwhals, even if you are from an indigenous people.

  7. Ali in Alaska
    May 17th, 2007 at 6:58 pm

    I'm queasy about the comment "mukluk chewing guy".

    FYI: mukluk is a boot. Muktuk is meat.

  8. Chris
    May 17th, 2007 at 11:40 pm

    It's like having 4 balls ;)

  9. BoB
    May 18th, 2007 at 5:00 am

    i didnt need to see this :(

  10. Nora
    May 19th, 2007 at 12:47 am

    Nice find for that guy. Narwhale horn (pre-ban type, anyway) can sell anywhere from $4000-8000+ USD depending on quality,shape,and size of the horn. This guy must think its his lucky day. I bet it gets even more on the "black" market in the USA. (post ban)

    Shame that something so pretty and rare can fetch such a high price. This is the moral dilemma poachers (and native people with hunting rights) face daily. Could you resist hunting rare animals that can bring you/your family a better life through TONS of money? Tough choices, & sad statement on mankind. Everything has a price tag. Save a species from extinction, or watch your kids grow up healthy. Tough choice.

    Save the planet, don't have kids...I say. :P

  11. andrew
    May 24th, 2007 at 5:17 pm

    for the record, narwhals aren't and rarer than, say, black bears for instance.


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