Comment on Scientists discover how narwhals grow nature's only straight tusk

expatriado@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

• otter@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  I was curious about what the tusk is even used for

  oceanconservancy.org/…/exactly-narwhal-tusk/

  There’s research that suggests the narwhal tusk is used primarily for hunting, but contrary to what you might be imagining, they don’t actually spear their food. In fact, there’s video evidence indicating that they instead give a quick and firm “tusk tap” to momentarily stun their prey (usually fish, shrimp or squid) and then quickly suck them up.

  TIL that narwhal tusks are for smacking and not stabbing

  The video link, although I haven’t watched it myself and didn’t find the timestamp: m.youtube.com/watch?v=OoTjLIN67Bw

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  • qualia@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    Similar with swordfish. If they speared food they’d have difficulty removing it without hands.

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    • dohpaz42@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      Those old Looney Tunes cartoons tell a different story.

      ~Just sayin’.~

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      • qualia@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

        rethinks life decisions

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  • altphoto@lemmy.today ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    Imagine if they ever figure out they can spear shit with their tusks.

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    • maturelemontree@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

      But how would they get it off? I imagine it’d be like holding a chopstick with your mouth and trying to eat something you spear with the chop.

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