Milly Gaines
The narwhal, or the 'unicorn of the sea', is a fascinating creature. With its long tusk protruding from the heads of males, it is a mysterious and beloved animal. Despite their popularity, there is still much to learn about these marine mammals. One of the largest marine mammals in their natural habitat, they consume a lot of food during their most active periods. But what do they eat?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet | Greenland halibut, Arctic cod, polar cod, redfish, wolffish, capelin, skate eggs, Gonatus squid, cuttlefish, shrimp, armhook squid, and other fish |
| Seasonal variation | In winter, narwhals feed on demersal prey, mostly flatfish, under dense pack ice. During the summer, they eat less and rely on fat storage. |
| Feeding behaviour | Narwhals are believed to swim close to prey and suck them into their mouths, as they lack well-developed dentition. They may also use their tusks to play with or catch their food. |
| Feeding grounds | Ice floe edge, ice-free summer waters, and shallow waters |
| Feeding groups | Narwhals travel and hunt in groups of up to 3-20, with aggregations of up to 1,000 occurring in the summer months. |
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What You'll Learn
Narwhals eat more in winter
Narwhals, the unicorns of the sea, are a species of toothed whale native to the Arctic. They inhabit the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia, and migrate to ice-free summering grounds annually, usually in shallow waters.
These fascinating creatures have a restricted and specialised diet, consisting mainly of polar and Arctic cod, Greenland halibut, cuttlefish, shrimp, and armhook squid. They are believed to feed by swimming close to their prey and sucking them into their mouths, as they lack well-developed dentition.
During the winter months, narwhals feed heavily on demersal prey, particularly flatfish, under dense pack ice. They consume a larger quantity of food in winter compared to summer, when they feed sparingly. This is because they rely on fat storage in the form of thick blubber layers to survive the warmer season.
The diet of narwhals varies between different populations. For example, the Northern Hudson Bay narwhals tend to feed on bottom-dwelling prey, while those in East Greenland focus on prey in the water column. The Baffin Bay narwhals target prey higher up in the food chain, such as Greenland halibut.
The size of the prey does not seem to differ significantly between genders or age groups. However, male narwhals are more likely to consume additional prey species found at greater depths, such as polar cod and redfish.
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Narwhals' summer diet
Narwhals are native to the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. They migrate to ice-free summering grounds, usually in shallow waters, and often return to the same sites in subsequent years.
Narwhals have a restricted and specialized diet. They are believed to swim close to their prey and suck them into their mouths due to their underdeveloped dentition. A study of the stomach contents of 73 narwhals found that their diet consists primarily of fish, such as Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida), Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), and polar cod (Arctogadus glacialis). They also consume squid, such as the Boreo-Atlantic armhook squid (Gonatus fabricii), and shrimp.
During the summer, narwhals feed sparingly, relying mainly on fat storage in the form of thick layers of blubber for energy. This is in contrast to their diet during the winter months, when they feed heavily.
The diet of narwhals may vary slightly between different populations. For example, the Northern Hudson Bay population tends to feed on bottom-dwelling prey, while the East Greenland population focuses on prey in the water column. Despite these regional differences, Greenland halibut is a common food source for narwhals across different regions.
In summary, the summer diet of narwhals consists primarily of Greenland halibut, Arctic cod, and polar cod, with smaller amounts of squid and shrimp. They adapt to the available food sources in their Arctic environment and rely on fat storage to survive during the warmer months.
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Narwhals' winter diet
Narwhals are a species of toothed whale native to the Arctic. They inhabit the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. Every year, they migrate to ice-free summering grounds, usually in shallow waters, and often return to the same sites in subsequent years.
During the winter, narwhals feed on demersal prey, primarily flatfish, under dense pack ice. They consume more food in the winter months than in summer, relying on fat storage in the form of thick layers of blubber to survive during the warmer months.
The narwhal diet consists mainly of Greenland halibut, found in the water column in East Greenland and higher up in the food chain in Baffin Bay. They also eat Gonatus squid, found in the Northern Hudson Bay, and bottom-dwelling prey such as Boreo-Atlantic armhook squid (Gonatus fabricii).
Narwhals are believed to locate their prey by swimming close to it and sucking it into their mouths, as they lack well-developed dentition. They also use echolocation to detect approaching predators and may use their tusks to intimidate them.
In addition to their winter diet, narwhals have been known to consume Arctic and polar cod, shrimp, and cuttlefish. They feed in groups of up to twenty members called pods and use a combination of whistles, clicks, and knocking sounds to communicate.
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Narwhals' prey
Narwhals are carnivores that hunt live prey. They have a restricted and specialised diet. They are believed to locate their prey by swimming close to it and sucking it into their mouths, rather than chewing it.
Narwhals feed heavily in the winter months, consuming the highest quantity of prey during this period. In winter, they feed on demersal prey, mostly flatfish, under dense pack ice. They also eat Greenland halibut, Gonatus squid, and polar cod. During the summer, they eat sparingly, relying on fat storage to survive. In the summer, their diet consists mostly of Arctic cod and Greenland halibut, with other fish such as polar cod making up the remainder. There are regional differences in the diet of narwhals. For example, the Northern Hudson Bay population of narwhals tends to feed on bottom-dwelling prey, while the East Greenland population focuses on prey in the water column.
Narwhals have two teeth, both at the tip of the upper jaw, but usually, only the left tooth develops into a long, straight tusk. The tusk is believed to be used to attract mates, sense water salinity, and play. It may also be used as a weapon or a tool for feeding, such as to help catch fish.
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Narwhals' feeding patterns
Narwhals are carnivorous marine mammals that feed on live prey. They are found in Arctic waters and rivers and inhabit the waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. They migrate to ice-free summering grounds annually, usually in shallow waters, and often return to the same sites in subsequent years.
Narwhals have a restricted and specialized diet. They feed on Greenland halibut, Arctic and polar cod, Boreo-Atlantic armhook squid, shrimp, and cuttlefish. They are believed to feed by swimming close to their prey and sucking them into their mouths, as they lack well-developed dentition. A study of the stomach contents of 73 narwhals found Arctic cod to be the most commonly consumed prey, followed by Greenland halibut. Male narwhals' stomach contents also included polar cod and redfish, which are found at depths of more than 500 meters.
Narwhals travel and hunt in groups of up to 15 to 20 members, called pods. They use echolocation to detect approaching predators and communicate using a variety of clicks, whistles, and knocks. Their distinctive long tusks, which are enlarged teeth with sensory capabilities, may also be used for feeding, in addition to attracting mates or sensing water salinity.
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Frequently asked questions
A narwhal's diet consists of Greenland halibut, Arctic and polar cod, squid, shrimp, and other fish.
Yes, narwhals are carnivores that hunt live prey.
No, there is no evidence that narwhals eat plants.
It is unclear how narwhals eat their prey, but due to their lack of well-developed dentition, it is believed that they feed by swimming close to prey and sucking them into their mouths.
