Monodontidae

The Narwhal is a whale and is also known as the unicorn of the sea. It is in the family of bottlenose dolphins, orcas, and Belugas (World Wildlife Fund). The scientific name for the Narwhal is Monodon monoceros and it is Greek meaning one-tooth, one-horn. It can grow up to 13-16 feet in length and weighs almost 2 tons (4,000 pounds). The region they are usually located is around the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. They are known as unicorns of the sea because they have a tusk

BELUGA WHALE 1) In 2009, a captive beluga whale rescued a diver during a free-diving competition. 2. Belugas are gregarious and live in social groups of 2-25 individuals (the average group size is ten). 3. Belugas are unique among cetaceans in that the vertebrae in their necks are not fused together. This gives their heads added manueverability. 2) The beluga whale, or Delphinapterus leucas, is the only member of its genus. It shares the Monodont family with one other species, Monodon monoceros

sea, the only species to belong in the genus Monodon. With their unique appearance, and dwindling existence, they are the least researched sea mammal; resulting in many unknowns of how Narwhals descended from the Beluga whale. From the family of Monodontidae, the narwhal evolved from the common ancestor Denebola. Their distinct feature, a tusk(which is in actuality a canine, the only tooth they possess), differentiates these creatures from other sea mammals, giving the species a selective advantage