Slashdot Mirror
Narwhal Tusks are Sensory Organs
PR0UD_INFIDEL writes "The New York Times is reporting that a recent study has determined that Narwhal tusks are not for fighting or breaking through ice, but are highly sensitive sensory organs. From the article: 'The close-ups showed that 10 million nerve endings tunnel from the tusk's core toward its outer surface, [and can] detect subtle changes of temperature, pressure, particle gradients and probably much else.'"
It's quite sobering to realise that they're sensory organs when you consider that poachers hack them off. :o(
That must hurt like a bastard - think more like ripping a tooth out than clipping a fingernail...
But why is it only the whale bulls (are male whales called bulls in english to?) that have these then? If they have a purpose beside assisting in reproduction, for fighting or impressing the females then why would not the females also have them?
-Queen of the Kung-Fu fairies
Perhaps that's the Narwhal equivalent of flossing after meals? With all those nerve endings and no dental plan, getting a bad cavity would hurt.
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar.