Facts about Narwhal Tusks

1. 05

   In medieval Europe, narwhal tusks were sold as genuine unicorn horns, known as alicorn, and valued at many times their weight in gold.

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2. 04

   Narwhal tusks grow in a distinctive left-handed spiral helix pattern, consistently twisting counter-clockwise from base to tip.

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3. 03

   Almost all narwhal tusks belong to males, with females only rarely developing a tusk.

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4. 02

   Millions of sensory nerve endings run through the narwhal tusk, allowing it to detect changes in water temperature, salinity, and pressure.

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5. 01

   The narwhal tusk is actually an elongated upper left canine tooth that can grow up to 3 meters long in males.

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