Why Do Narwhal’s Have a ‘Unicorn’ Horn? HD

The icy waters of the Arctic are home to a magical creature; the narwhal. It can grow to over 5 meters, has a tusk that resembles a unicorn’s horn, and can live for up to 50 years. Male narwhals, and around 15% of all female narwhals grow a long spiral tooth that resembles a spiral sword-like tusk. These tusks can grow to just shy of 2.7 meters long, and there are several theories about why they have them; including hunting, using as ice picks, weapons, for sexual selection, or as a tool for echolocation. A recent theory also suggests that the tusks act as a sensory device, covered in thousands of nerve endings, helping them to analyse their environment. One researcher likened it to the kind of feeling a human would have in a broken tooth. Narwhals are hunted for these ivory horns, which can fetch around $16,000, and whilst some forms of narwhal hunting are legal, illegal poaching still takes place. This, combined with environmental changes means that sadly, the narwhal isn’t just a magical species, it’s a vulnerable one. Subscribe to Getty Images TV on YouTube: http://gtty.im/2r0Jgyx Like @gettyimages on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gettyimages Follow @gettyimages on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gettyimages Follow @gettyimages on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/gettyimages Check out more videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh4CvlC9Su53xwWDJ5P6WqA