The spiral horns sold as unicorn horn in Europe came from the narwhal, a small Arctic whale. The 'horn' is really a tooth that grows out through its upper lip, twisting as it goes, up to about 2.5 metres long. People believed it could detect poison, and royalty paid fortunes for one.
Truth label: Established. Strong evidence and broad agreement among experts.
Go deeper
A gift for a queen
The explorer Sir Humphrey Gilbert gave Elizabeth I a jewelled narwhal tusk said to be worth £10,000, enough at the time to buy a small castle.
The 'sea unicorn'
An account of Martin Frobisher's Arctic voyage in 1577 describes a 'sea unicorne', and his men took its horn home.
Learn
- What the tusk is for. Nobody is sure. The tusk has about ten million nerve endings, so it may sense the water around it. It may also help males impress mates.
- Usually on the left. In males, it is normally the left tooth that grows into the long tusk.
Test yourself
What is a narwhal's tusk?
A tooth. It is an elongated tooth that grows out through the upper lip.
Sources
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