Quick answer
The narwhal is an Arctic whale famous for the long, spiraled tusk that grows from the head of most males. The tusk is actually an enlarged tooth packed with nerves. Narwhals live year-round in the icy waters of the Arctic, reach about 5 m (16 ft) excluding the tusk, and can live 50 years or more.
Key takeaway
The narwhal is an Arctic whale famous for the long, spiraled tusk that grows from the head of most males. The tusk is actually an enlarged tooth packed with nerves. Narwhals live year-round in the icy waters of the Arctic, reach about 5 m (16 ft) excluding the tusk, and can live 50 years or more.
Narwhal overview
Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is a mammal listed here as Least Concern. Typical weight 800–1,600 kg (1,800–3,500 lb); lifespan around 50+ years.
Narwhal ecology
Diet: Carnivore (fish, squid, shrimp). Habitat: Arctic oceans and ice-edge waters. Movement and social systems reflect those pressures across the native range.
Narwhals and people
Learn before you travel or keep related pets. Wild narwhals are not toys; captive care needs species-specific husbandry.
Status and further reading
Conservation label in our guides: Least Concern. See the full Narwhal profile for taxonomy, FAQs, and related topic guides on this site.
Habitat and range
Narwhals live in the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia, with the largest numbers around Baffin Bay between Canada and Greenland. They travel in groups and migrate seasonally between deep offshore wintering grounds and shallower coastal bays in summer.
Conservation
The narwhal is listed as Least Concern, but it is highly specialized and considered one of the marine mammals most vulnerable to climate change. Shrinking sea ice, increased shipping noise, and changing prey all threaten it, and it is still hunted under managed subsistence quotas by Arctic Indigenous communities.
Sources
Narwhal FAQs
What are key facts about narwhals?
The narwhal is an Arctic whale famous for the long, spiraled tusk that grows from the head of most males. The tusk is actually an enlarged tooth packed with nerves. Narwhals live year-round in the icy waters of the Arctic, reach about 5 m (16 ft) excluding the tusk, and can live 50 years or more.
What is the scientific name of the narwhal?
Monodon monoceros — used in research and conservation listings for narwhals.
What do narwhals eat?
Narwhals eat fish, squid and shrimp, with seasonal and regional variation in Arctic oceans and ice-edge waters.
Where do narwhals live?
They are associated with Arctic oceans and ice-edge waters. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of narwhals?
Listed in our guides as Least Concern. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.