NARWHAL TUSK. ...

Description

NARWHAL TUSK
Monodon monoceras
Arctic Ocean
One of the strangest-looking creatures to be found on the Earth, the Narwhal is a toothed whale native to the Arctic waters of Canada and Greenland. It is immediately recognizable by the remarkable helical "horn" that protrudes from its mouth up to a length of 10 feet. This horn has inspired many myths and suppositions: the Inuit have it that the Narwhal was created when a woman with a harpoon was dragged into the ocean after the Beluga whale she had speared (the Beluga being the Narwhal's only relative in the Monodontidae family). Elsewhere it is thought to have originated the unicorn myth and in medieval Europe such horns changed hands for huge sums of money, worth more than their weight in gold and prized for supposed magical properties. Indeed, there is still some question as to their actual scientific function: usually the horn is found only in the male, a radically enlarged right incisor, although horned females are occasionally recorded (as are, rarely, double-horned specimens) so it is commonly supposed to be a secondary sexual characteristic used in courting and rutting. Recent research suggests, however, that unlike the protruding horn-like teeth and tusks found in other mammals, that of the Narwhal may in fact be a sensory organ; electron micrography reveals millions of tiny tubules leading from the surface of the horn and apparently connecting to the nervous system. Such tubules are found in many species, but do not typically extend to the outer surface of healthy teeth. As the Narwhal is a benthic feeder and one of the deepest-diving of all whales, some suppose that the horn is used to sense water temperature and pressure. Whatever it's secret, the Narwhal's horn is one of the wonders of the natural world and this is a good medium-sized specimen at 63 5/8 inches long which exhibits the classic left-handed helix structure all the way along its length. A small natural chip near the tip is present otherwise in fine condition. Comes complete with a stepped circular black marble base.
Accompanied with documentation allowing it to be sold within the United States. However, it is important to note that this lot cannot be exported outside of the United States.

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