Narwhals are infamously mysterious creatures and perhaps their most elusive attribute is their long, spiral tusk (which technically is an elongated tooth). Now, for the first time, scientists have captured unprecedented footage of narwhals in the wild, revealing that they use their tusks not just to investigate their surroundings, but also to stun prey and play with fish.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University and Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans teamed up with Inuit communities in Nunavut in Canada’s High Arctic to document the region’s narwhals using drones armed with video cameras.
Their footage captured at least 17 distinct behaviors, some of which have never been documented before.
Some of the most fascinating observations involved interaction with other species. Narwhals were spotted chasing large fish, such as Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), and using their tusk to hit and stun the prey. They also used the tusks in interactions with seabirds, like glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus), who were attempting to snatch their hard-earned prey.
“Our observations provide clear evidence of narwhals chasing fish and using their tusks to interact directly with the fish and to influence the fish’s behavior. Some of the interactions we saw appeared competitive in nature with one whale blocking or trying to block another whale’s access to the same target fish, while others may have been more subtle, possibly communicative and even affiliative. None appeared overtly aggressive,” Greg O’Corry-Crowe, senior study author and a research professor at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch, said in a statement.
The narwhals would also use their tusks to probe and investigate objects with “remarkable dexterity”, according to the researchers. It’s possible that the tusk is capable of sensing changes in water temperature and salinity, allowing the narwhals to detect differences in sea ice conditions that could help their hunting efforts.
The study suggests that narwhals may even use the tusks for play, which involves investigating and interacting with objects in their environment without a functional goal. In one observation, three narwhals interacted with a fish but did not attempt to eat it. Instead, they nudged, pushed, and examined the fish, seemingly out of curiosity rather than hunger.
The researchers even speculate that individuals would use their tusks in slightly different ways, hinting at the idea of personality differences among the animals.
“Narwhals are known for their ‘tusking’ behavior, where two or more of them simultaneously raise their tusks almost vertically out of the water, crossing them in what may be a ritualistic behavior to assess a potential opponent’s qualities or to display those qualities to potential mates,” said O’Corry-Crowe.
“But now we know that narwhal tusks have other uses, some quite unexpected, including foraging, exploration, and play,” he added.
As Arctic environments continue to warm and change, understanding how narwhals adapt may be key to their survival. Their tusks, once thought to serve a singular purpose, have now been revealed as tools of exploration, communication, and even play. With the help of new technology and collaborative research, scientists are only beginning to unravel the life of these enigmatic whales.
The new study is published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
