Narwhal tusk length linked to testes mass suggesting its purpose is for attracting females
Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - 09:00
in Biology & Nature
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers studying narwhal and beluga whales in their native Arctic ecosystem has found what appears to be a correlation between testes mass and tusk length in narwhals—suggesting the horn-like appendage exists as a means for males to attract females. In their paper published in Marine Mammal Science, the team describes how they obtained narwhal anatomy measurements and why they believe the tusk serves mostly as a fertility draw.