Narwhals, those elusive Arctic toothed whales, have long captivated scientists and laypeople alike. Renowned for their distinctive spiral tusks, these marine mammals were once believed to be the magical unicorns of the ocean’s depths. A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that narwhal tusks are not just one left-oriented spiral but also feature a second internal spiral running in the opposite direction.

Inuit legend suggests that a woman transformed into a narwhal after being hit by a harpoon, her twisted hair turning into the animal’s iconic tusk. It turns out she was right: the tusk is indeed a canine tooth from the left upper jaw of male narwhals, emerging through their lip as they age.

These tusks have puzzled scientists for years, with one theory suggesting that they evolved due to sexual selection as a sign of social status. However, their exact function remains shrouded in mystery. Narwhals are known to use them to stun small Arctic cod during hunting, while some speculate the tusks might serve as weapons or even help sense temperature and salinity changes.

Interestingly, not all males develop these impressive spirals, and females rarely do so at all, making their presence in the male population quite a spectacle. Despite this, the precise role of the tusk continues to be debated, leaving us with more questions than answers about these fascinating creatures.