Narwhals have to be one of the most fascinating marine mammals in the sea. Often called the “unicorns of the sea”, these whales are characterized by a long tusk that protrudes from the left side of the upper jaw. This tusk is an elongated canine tooth, and contains millions of nerve endings which helps the narwhal to pick up stimuli in the water, and is thought to help them communicate with other individuals.
During the Middle Ages, traders that traveled along the Arctic seas would acquire these tusks and sell them for exorbitant amounts of gold to Europeans, who believed them to be the horns of unicorns. For more fascinating facts about narwhals, click through the gallery above!