Are narwhals whales?

Quick Answer

Yes, narwhals are definitely whales. Specifically, they are classified as toothed whales (suborder Odontoceti), placing them in the same broad category as sperm whales, killer whales, and dolphins.

Within the whale family tree, the Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) holds a unique spot in the family Monodontidae. They share this family with only one other species: the Beluga Whale. Unlike the massive baleen whales (like the blue or humpback whale) that filter feed using baleen plates, narwhals are predators that hunt specific prey. They are medium-sized cetaceans, typically reaching lengths of 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6 meters) excluding their famous tusk, and weighing up to 3,500 pounds (1,600 kg).

What You Need to Know

To fully understand the narwhal’s classification, it helps to look at how marine biologists organize cetaceans. All whales, dolphins, and porpoises belong to the order Cetacea. This order is split into two primary suborders: Mysticeti (baleen whales) and Odontoceti (toothed whales).

Scientific Classification

The narwhal is a toothed whale, which means it is biologically distinct from filter-feeders like the Blue Whale. While “whale” is a broad term often used colloquially to describe size, scientifically, the distinction relies on their feeding anatomy and evolutionary lineage.

As members of the suborder Odontoceti, narwhals share several characteristics with other toothed whales:

• They have a single blowhole (baleen whales have two).
• They use echolocation to navigate and hunt in dark waters.
• They are highly social and possess complex brains.

However, the narwhal’s specific family, Monodontidae, is quite exclusive. It contains only two living species: the narwhal and the beluga. These two species are sometimes referred to as “white whales” (though narwhals are mottled) and are uniquely adapted for life in the high Arctic. For detailed insight into how scientists categorize these animals, you can explore Classification.

The “Unicorn” Tooth

The most defining feature of the narwhal—and often a source of confusion regarding their classification—is their tusk. It is not a horn, but actually a specialized canine tooth.

In most males (and about 15% of females), the left canine tooth grows outward through the upper lip, forming a spiral tusk that can grow up to 10 feet long. This structure is unique among all whales. Because they technically have teeth (even if they don’t use them for chewing), they fit perfectly into the toothed whale category. Interestingly, beyond this tusk and a small vestigial tooth behind it, narwhals are essentially toothless in their mouths and must use suction to swallow prey like Arctic cod and squid whole.

Adaptations to the Arctic

Narwhals are extreme specialists. While many whales migrate thousands of miles between feeding and breeding grounds, narwhals spend their entire lives in the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia.

To survive in this habitat, narwhals have evolved distinct physical traits that separate them from other whales:

1. No Dorsal Fin: Like their beluga cousins, narwhals lack a dorsal fin on their backs. Instead, they have a low dorsal ridge. A tall fin would hinder their movement under the pack ice where they feed and hide from predators like killer whales.
2. Deep Diving Physiology: Narwhals are among the deepest diving marine mammals, capable of reaching depths of 1,500 meters (nearly a mile) to hunt Greenland halibut.
3. Blubber Thickness: To withstand freezing temperatures, they possess a thick layer of blubber that constitutes up to 40% of their body weight.

Confusion with Dolphins

People often ask are dolphins whales, and the answer is yes—dolphins are a specific family of toothed whales. Since narwhals are also toothed whales, are they dolphins?

No. Narwhals are not dolphins (family Delphinidae). They belong to a separate biological family. While they are related to dolphins through the suborder Odontoceti, their lineage diverged millions of years ago. Their closer relationship to belugas is evident in their skeletal structure and neck flexibility, which allows them to scan their environment more effectively than many other cetaceans.

Biological Characteristics

Narwhals exhibit classic mammalian traits found in all cetaceans. For those wondering is a whale a mammal, narwhals provide a clear example. They breathe air, give birth to live young, and nurse their calves with milk rich in fat.

• Size: They are significantly smaller than the “great whales” but larger than most dolphins.
• Lifespan: Narwhals are long-lived, with some individuals estimated to live up to 50 years, similar to many other whale species.
• Coloration: Narwhals change color as they age. Calves are blue-gray, juveniles turn blue-black, adults develop a mottled gray and white pattern, and very old narwhals can be almost entirely white.

Key Takeaways

• Taxonomy: Narwhals are toothed whales (Odontoceti) and members of the Monodontidae family.
• Relatives: Their closest living relative is the Beluga Whale.
• Anatomy: The famous narwhal tusk is actually an elongated canine tooth, primarily found in males.
• Habitat: They are specialized for Arctic life, lacking a dorsal fin to swim easily under sea ice.
• Diet: As predators, they feed on fish, squid, and shrimp using suction, unlike baleen whales that filter feed.
• Conservation: While currently listed as Least Concern, they are vulnerable to climate change and receding sea ice. For more on how environmental changes affect cetaceans, see Conservation.

If you are interested in the specific locations where these unique whales are found, you might want to read where do narwhal whales live.