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Scientists discover how narwhals grow nature's only straight tusk
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Wyrehead mungapple.org wyrehead@mungapple.org
Joined: 2026-08-19
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96   Original
EntheoNaut lemmy.ml EntheoNaut@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-22
#2 · Quote Reply

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

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DataCrime lemmy.dbzer0.com DataCrime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2023-06-29
#3 · Quote Reply

They're just whales with a shitty dental plan.

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Zachariah lemmy.world Zachariah@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-13
#4 · (edited) Quote Reply

Step 1: be a magical unicorn
Step 2:…

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expatriado lemmy.world expatriado@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-18
#5 · (edited) Quote Reply

so, it wasn't the midnight bacon then

if it is a long canine, wonder about 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 otter@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-06-05
#6 · Quote Reply

so, it wasn't the midnight bacon then if it is a long canine, wonder about the transition period, for a while they had a useless tiny teeth coming out of the front of their face

I was curious about what the tusk is even used for

https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2019/03/08/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: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OoTjLIN67Bw

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NigelFrobisher aussie.zone NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone
Joined: 2023-08-07
#7 · Quote Reply

Is it Jesus Camp?

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qualia lemmy.world qualia@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-11-05
#8 · Quote Reply

I was curious about what the tusk is even used for https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2019/03/08/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 the...

Similar with swordfish. If they speared food they'd have difficulty removing it without hands.

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dohpaz42 lemmy.world dohpaz42@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-01
#9 · Quote Reply

Similar with swordfish. If they speared food they'd have difficulty removing it without hands.

Those old Looney Tunes cartoons tell a different story.

~Just sayin’.~

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Røøk lemmy.world _lilith@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-09-12
#10 · Quote Reply

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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altphoto lemmy.today altphoto@lemmy.today
Joined: 2025-04-14
#11 · Quote Reply

I was curious about what the tusk is even used for https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2019/03/08/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 the...

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

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qualia lemmy.world qualia@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-11-05
#12 · Quote Reply

Those old Looney Tunes cartoons tell a different story. ~Just sayin’.~

rethinks life decisions

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maturelemontree lemmy.zip maturelemontree@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2026-02-11
#13 · Quote Reply

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

But how would they get it off? I imagine it'd be like holding a chopstick with your mouth and trying to eat something you spear with the chop.

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