Narwhals use their tusks to chase and bat around fish, in first documentation of narwhal play 🦄🐟️
Researchers have long debated what narwhals’ tusks are for, with some arguing that the long, spiralled tooth is a signal to potential mates, or that it could be a weapon, while others have argued it might be used to detect chemical changes in the ocean.
Now, researchers at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, a government department, have observed narwhals using their tusks to chase and hit Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) fish, both as a possible hunting technique but also potentially as a way to play. In one observation, an adult narwhal that was chasing a fish was soon joined by two other narwhals, who used their horns to track and mirror its movement for several minutes, without attempting to eat it, but apparently shepherding it along its path.
This behaviour appears to fulfil all the criteria for animal play, the researchers say, including having no obvious role in survival, as well as appearing to be spontaneous, repeated and exaggerated, and with the narwhal under no external stress. It’s unclear whether narwhals also hunt Arctic char for food, especially as they can eat squid or halibut in winter, which satisfies most of their energy needs.
Journal reference: doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1518605
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Видео Narwhals use their tusks to chase and bat around fish, in first documentation of narwhal play 🦄🐟️ канала New Scientist
Now, researchers at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, a government department, have observed narwhals using their tusks to chase and hit Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) fish, both as a possible hunting technique but also potentially as a way to play. In one observation, an adult narwhal that was chasing a fish was soon joined by two other narwhals, who used their horns to track and mirror its movement for several minutes, without attempting to eat it, but apparently shepherding it along its path.
This behaviour appears to fulfil all the criteria for animal play, the researchers say, including having no obvious role in survival, as well as appearing to be spontaneous, repeated and exaggerated, and with the narwhal under no external stress. It’s unclear whether narwhals also hunt Arctic char for food, especially as they can eat squid or halibut in winter, which satisfies most of their energy needs.
Journal reference: doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1518605
Subscribe ➤ https://bit.ly/NSYTSUBS
Get more from New Scientist:
Official website: https://bit.ly/NSYTHP
Facebook: https://bit.ly/NSYTFB
Twitter: https://bit.ly/NSYTTW
Instagram: https://bit.ly/NSYTINSTA
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/NSYTLIN
About New Scientist:
New Scientist was founded in 1956 for “all those interested in scientific discovery and its social consequences”. Today our website, videos, newsletters, app, podcast and print magazine cover the world’s most important, exciting and entertaining science news as well as asking the big-picture questions about life, the universe, and what it means to be human.
New Scientist
https://www.newscientist.com/
Видео Narwhals use their tusks to chase and bat around fish, in first documentation of narwhal play 🦄🐟️ канала New Scientist
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5 марта 2025 г. 23:00:31
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