Narwhals, Unicorns of the Sea
Next to tardigrades and red panda, Narwhals are one of my favorite creatures: The narwhal is an elusive, mysterious resident of the remote Arctic. The species, a relatively small whale adapted for extreme icy environments, is known for growing a characteristic spiral tusk that resembles the historical portrayal of a unicorn’s horn. The name “narwhal” comes from the Norse words “nar” (corpse) and “hval” (whale). According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the name refers to the whale’s dappled gray skin, which to sailors resembled that of a drowned person. Narwhals are an important subsistence resource for Inuit … Read more