The horned narwhale is one of the most unique and gorgeous creatures in the entire ocean. An inhabitant of the Arctic, a horned narwhale can weigh up to three and a half thousand pounds and measure up to fifteen feet or more in length. Their single tusk alone can be nearly ten feet long and weigh over twenty pounds.
One of the most popular legends about the horned narwhale is how the animal developed its tusk. According to Inuit lore, a woman with long, braided hair lanced a narwhale with a harpoon tied to her waist. The woman was dragged into the water where she was magically transformed into a narwhale herself, her long hair turning into the characteristic tusk. Narwhales also encouraged another popular legend when their tusks were found and mistaken for the horns of unicorns.
The narwhale is a beautiful animal whose unique tusk makes it one of the ocean’s most majestic looking creatures. Although not on the endangered species list, it’s still important that we respect their environment. Who knows, if you’re ever near the chilly arctic waters of Canada or Greenland, you just might see one of these truly unique unicorns of the sea yourself.