Posted on 12/13/2005 1:44:45 PM PST by flevit
"Why would a tusk break the rules of normal development by expressing millions of sensory pathways that connect its nervous system to the frigid arctic environment?" says Nweeia. "Such a finding is startling and indeed surprised all of us who discovered it." Nweeia collaborated on this project with Frederick Eichmiller, DDS, director of the Paffenbarger Research Center at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and James Mead, PhD, curator of Marine Mammals at the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution.
Nweeia studied the whales during four trips to the Canadian High Arctic. In the past, many theories have been presented to explain the tooth's purpose and function, none of which have been accepted as definitive. One of the most common is that the tooth is used to display aggression between males, who joust with each other for social hierarchy. Another is that the tooth is a secondary sexual characteristic, like a peacock's feathers or a lion's mane.
Nweeia's findings point to a new direction of scientific investigation. Fewer than 250 papers have been published about the narwhal, and many offer conflicting results. Because of its Arctic habitat and protected status in Canada, the whale is difficult to study. Nweeia has brought together leaders from the fields of marine mammal science, dental medicine, engineering, mathematics, evolutionary biology, anatomy, and histology.
The sensory connections discovered by Nweeia and his colleagues also are capable of tactile ability. Narwhals are known for their "tusking" behavior, when males rub tusks. Because of the tactile sensory ability of the tusk surface, the whales are likely experiencing a unique sensation.
Results from the team's research already has practical applications; studies about the physical makeup of the tusk, which is both strong and flexible, provide insight into ways of improving restorative dental materials. (An 8-foot-long tooth can yield one foot in any direction without breaking). Nweeia also leads the Narwhal Tooth Expeditions and Research Investigation, founded in 2000, which combines scientific experts with Inuit elders, who have collected notes for hundreds of years, to discover the purpose and function of the narwhal tusk.
rrrrr...this is an EXERPT..forgot the little check box
Disgusting! Has Jerry Falwell weighed in on this yet?
Any part of any animal whose function is unknown MUST still have something to do with sex.
It sounds distinctly kinky to me.
Are these people are trying to tell us that these are gay whales (huh Rosie)?
So why would only males have a tusk?
LOL
susie
Sounds like a swordfight
Females are too busy raising baby narwhales.
susie
They're moslims,,,,,,,,,
There has to be a joke here about a Narwhal, a bar, a female Narwhal and a stupid line.
"Narwhals are known for their "tusking" behavior, when males rub tusks. "
Nuke ALL the gay whales! That's just not right!
Barney Frank Ping
According to the article, all males and some females have the tusks.
A movie about gay cowboy whales: Humpback Mountain
Vinna kinky roligt.
Nweeia's findings point to a new direction of scientific investigation.
LOL!
Do the male whales go blind...? Do they have warts?
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