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Wyrehead@mungapple.org to Biology@mander.xyzEnglish · 5 hours ago

Scientists discover how narwhals grow nature's only straight tusk

phys.org

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Scientists discover how narwhals grow nature's only straight tusk

phys.org

Wyrehead@mungapple.org to Biology@mander.xyzEnglish · 5 hours ago
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Narwhals have nature's only straight tusk, a single tooth up to three meters (10 feet) long, so strange they were sold as magical unicorn horns during the Middle Ages.
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  • Røøk@lemmy.world
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    22 minutes ago

    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

  • expatriado@lemmy.world
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    3 hours ago

    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

    • Otter@lemmy.ca
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      3 hours ago

      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

      • qualia@lemmy.world
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        2 hours ago

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

        • dohpaz42@lemmy.world
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          1 hour ago

          Those old Looney Tunes cartoons tell a different story.

          ~Just sayin’.~

  • NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone
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    2 hours ago

    Is it Jesus Camp?

  • DataCrime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    4 hours ago

    They’re just whales with a shitty dental plan.

  • Zachariah@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    Step 1: be a magical unicorn
    Step 2:…

  • EntheoNaut@lemmy.ml
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    4 hours ago

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

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