The narwhal, often called the “unicorn of the sea,” is a marine mammal known for its remarkable elongated tusk. This distinctive feature, primarily found on males, is actually a canine tooth that can grow several meters long, spiraling in a counter-clockwise direction. Their unique adaptations allow them to thrive in some of the planet’s most extreme conditions.
Their Arctic Home
Narwhals are found exclusively in the Arctic waters. Their distribution is largely confined to the Atlantic sector of the Arctic Ocean, with only rare sightings in the Pacific areas. The frigid temperatures and extensive ice cover of the Arctic are integral to their existence. These whales depend on the ice, which influences their movement patterns and provides refuge. Narwhals maintain a steady body temperature despite living in waters near freezing point year-round, with blubber comprising a significant portion of their body mass.
Specific Regional Habitats
Narwhals are predominantly found in regions within the Arctic, including the waters around Greenland, the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and parts of the Russian Arctic. A large concentration, estimated at around 90%, resides in the Baffin Bay-Davis Strait area, situated between Canada and western Greenland. Within the Canadian Arctic, populations inhabit the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, such as Lancaster Sound, as well as northern Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait. Narwhals also frequent deep-water fjords, like those in Baffin Island, which serve as important areas during their migrations. These areas offer characteristics such as deep waters, ice edges, and narrow fissures or “leads” within the pack ice, which narwhals utilize for breathing and foraging.
Seasonal Migrations
Narwhals exhibit predictable seasonal migrations, moving in response to the formation and melting of sea ice. In summer, they move into shallower, ice-free coastal waters, including bays and fjords, where they congregate in larger groups. These summering grounds are important for calving and rearing their young. As autumn progresses and the ocean begins to freeze, narwhals migrate to deeper, offshore waters, often under thick pack ice, for the winter months. During winter, they rely on small leads and cracks in the ice to surface and breathe, sometimes diving to depths of 800 to 1,500 meters in search of food like Greenland halibut.