Unicorn of the Sea
It is said that the most extraordinary tooth in nature belongs to the narwhal, also known as the unicorn of the sea. This creature, once believed to be mythical, sports a long spiral tusk “tooth” that can grow up to 9 feet in length.
While at first glance it doesn’t appear to be any different than an elephant, rhino or walrus tusk, it is actually much different than anything seen before.
The narwhal tooth is the only straight tusk in the world. It’s also one of the only spiral teeth. The left tooth comes up through the jaw and corkscrews through the lip. On rare occasions, a narwhal has been spotted with two tusks. This happens when the right tooth also grows into a tusk. The tusk is flexible, able to bend about a foot in any direction without breaking.
Naturally, teeth are very durable with an extremely hard surface and soft interior where the pulp and nerves reside. However, the narwhal tooth is just the opposite. The hard part of the tooth lies at the center of the tusk which is surrounded by a soft sensitive outer layer full of nerves. The big question, what is the purpose of this giant tooth?
Some believe it is used to duel or establish dominance; however that seems unlikely as their interactions observed have not been violent. Others believe it may have something to do with mating, communicating or even breaking through ice.
“Imagine: exploration, wonder and mystery are all wound up in this magnificent spiraled tusk and sensory organ.”
Dr. Martin Nweeia, a clinical instructor at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, has a theory that the narwhal tusk acts like a sensor. The nerves on the outside allow the whale to detect temperature, water pressure, and possibly even barometric pressure while above the water’s surface. This information is then transmitted through nerves to the brain. The research team tested this theory by slipping a clear tube onto several narwhal tusks. They then sloshed high or low salt water over the tusk and measured the changes in heart rate; which they found to be significant and not necessarily related to a fight or flight reaction.
There is still so much to learn about these magnificent creatures and their remarkable tooth. Luckily there are men and women who will brave the 36 degree water and 120 mph winds while perched on ice floes to discover all they can about the unicorn of the sea.
*ADA News, April 7, 2014
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/narwhal.htm
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