AnimalID

Name

5407

Narwhale

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General Information

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Description:

Monodon monoceros means, literally, "single toothed horn." This is an apt description of the narwhal and its distinctive tusk, but the common name, narwhal, is just as appropriate. In Old Norse, narwhal means "corpse whale," probably referring to the pale, almost white color these animals obtain as they age. Although they are born dark in color, by maturity they are grayish-blue with white blotches. These blotches increase with age, so that elderly animals are almost entirely white, or corpse-like.

In the Middle Ages, explorers traveling far to the north hunted a mysterious whale for its long hollow horn, which they sold in Europe as the horns of unicorn. Today we know that the tusk of the narwhal is not a horn at all, but a tooth. All narwhals are born with two undeveloped teeth in their beaks. Around the end of their first year of life, the left hand tooth of most males (and about three percent of females) will erupt into a long tusk. Rarely, the second tooth will erupt as well, resulting in a small number of double-tusked animals.

Scientists once thought narwhals used their three-meter long tusk to hunt for food, or even to break air holes in the ice. But it is now thought that these teeth are used primarily in dominance battles. During the mating season, fierce battles will break out between rival males, who will joust with their tusks to prove dominance. Many adult male narwhals are scarred from these battles and up to a third of them have broken or damaged tusks.

Like other toothed whales, narwhals have a rounded head with a blowhole, and a thick layer of blubber. Narwhals have a smaller beak than other cetaceans and have no dorsal fin at all. Newborn narwhal calves weigh about 80 kilograms and are less than six feet long. Narwhal females mature between four and seven years of age; males take a little longer. By the time they reach adulthood, they can be up to 16 feet long (not counting the tooth) and can weigh over 3,000 pounds. Its size and thick layer of blubber makes the narwhal well adapted to its Arctic home. Herds of up to 20 follow the ice floes around the region, moving out of an area as it becomes entirely ice covered and returning when the ice breaks up. These herds are frequently made up entirely of same-sex animals. Herds of females and their calves are usually found closer to shore than male herds. Narwhal herds will sometimes come together in groups of up to one thousand whales.

Narwhals are suction feeders. Forming an O-shape with their mouths, they suck water into their mouths, and with it fish, squid, shrimp, and small crustaceans, all of which they swallow whole. Narwhals have also been found with stones in their stomachs. This suggests that they feed along the ocean bottom in the Arctic shallows, sucking up anything that comes into their path.

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General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

To build a good animal exhibit you need to ask a few questions: (click them for the answers)

Which tank wall is suitable for this animal?     Remember that all tanks need a tank filter!

How big should the exhibit be and what Depth should the tank be?

What foliage should be used?

What rocks should be used?

What shelter does the animal need?

What toy does the animal like?

Does this animal perform in a show?

No

TankWallName

Purchase Cost

See Through

Height

Strength

Life

Cost Effective

Concrete Edge and Glass

$125

Yes

3

500

13

10.4

Atlantean Tank Wall

$125

Yes

3

500

13

10.4

Solid Concrete

$125

No

3

500

13

10.4

Black Bar and Glass

$130

Yes

3

500

13

10.0

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

Animal Density

Min

Number of Animals/Exhibit

Max

20

4

10

Terrain Name

Value

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Rocks

Foliage

Exhibit Size

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Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

ID

Value

TreeName

Foliage Effect

Cost/ Square

Cost Effective

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Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

ID

Value

RockName

Size X

Size Y

Rock

Rock Effect

Purchase Cost

Cost Effective

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The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

Shelter ID

Shelter Name

Shelter Value

Shelter Effect

Purchase Cost

Capacity

none

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Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

ToyID

ToyName

ToyValue

PurchaseCost

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General Information

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The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

Compatible Animals

Prey Animals

mermaid

10

KeeperFoodType:

Fish

beluga

30

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?