Scientists discover how narwhals grow nature's only straight tusk

Comments

• expatriado@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  so, it wasn’t the midnight bacon then

  if it is a long canine, wonder anout the transition period, for a while they had a useless tiny teeth coming out of the front of their face

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  • 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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    • altphoto@lemmy.today ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

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

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• DataCrime@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  They’re just whales with a shitty dental plan.

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• _lilith@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  The tusk/tooth is made of two different materials one inside and one outside. They spiral in different directions and that apparently keeps it straight

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• Zachariah@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Step 1: be a magical unicorn Step 2:…

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• EntheoNaut@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  That’s wild. Literally. Would love to know more about narwhals and toothy tusks!!

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