(Photo by: David Fleetham/VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty ... [+] Images) Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesNarwhals have been dubbed the “unicorns of the sea” because of the striking spiral “horns” that protrude from their heads. In the medieval times, narwhal tusks were prized because they were believed to have magical powers. There’s no evidence that narwhals have magic horns, but their tusks are playing an important role in helping scientists understand how climate change is impacting the arctic. Much like the trunk of a tree, narwhal tusks, which are actually enlarged teeth, grow in layers as the animals age. Scientists analyzed changes in mercury exposure in ten narwhal tusks purchased from Northwest Greenland, several from animals over 40 years old, for a new study published in Current Biology.

Source: Forbes April 16, 2021 12:22 UTC