What is the longest recorded length of a male narwhal, in metres?
Answer
6.2 metres
The longest recorded length of a male narwhal is 6.2 metres.
Narwhals are medium-sized Arctic toothed whales, and males are generally larger than females. Much of the male’s dramatic appearance comes from its long spiral tusk, which is actually an elongated upper-left canine tooth. In rare cases, males develop a second tusk, but most have only one.
Narwhals live in Arctic waters around Canada, Greenland, and Russia. They migrate seasonally between coastal summering areas and deeper offshore winter habitat, often traveling beneath sea ice. Their diet includes fish, squid, and shrimp, which they capture at considerable depth.
The 6.2-metre maximum refers to total body length, not tusk length. Narwhal tusks can reach roughly 3 metres, but they are not horns and do not grow from the forehead. Their tusks contain millions of nerve endings, making them unusually sensitive teeth.