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Narwhal Evolution Project
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Narwhal Evolution Project
By: Tammy Luong
Timeline of Evolution
Timeline
of Evolution
The narwhal started out as a Mesonychid, a land animal. It evolved into a Pakicetus and then an Ambulocetus. Then, it evolved into a Dalanistes which is a land animal. Next, it became a Rodhocetus, a sea animal. Afterwards, the rest of the narwhals ancestors were sea creatures. The Takracetus and Gaviocetus came after. Then, it evolved into a Dorudon. The Dorudon evolved into the Mysticetus, then a Odontocetes. After the Odontocetes came the Sperm Whales, Beaked Whales, the Ganges/Indus River Dolphins, the Oceanic Dolphins, Porpoises, and finally the Narwhal.
Family Tree
Early Ancestors
Earliest Ancestors
The Mesonychid was the earliest known ancestor of of the Narwhal. It was part of the ungulate family, which is the most successful group of animals. It was also the largest. The Mesonychid was a hoofed predator. They resembled bears, cats, and wolves.
Intermediate Ancestors
Intermediate Ancestors
Some of the Narwhal’s ancestors were the Mesonychid. It was a land animal. After many evolutions, its ancestor was an ocean creature. It had a blowhole many descendants later. The narwhal is the descendant of a type of whale.
Modern Versus Ancestors
Modern versus Ancestors Adaptations
The earliest known ancestor of the Narwhal, the Mesonychid, had legs, a tail, and was a land animal. As time went on, it lost its leg for flippers and its tail became shorter. More recently, the Narwhal got its horn. Now, it has blubber to keep itself warm, a streamline shape to swim more efficiently, and a blowhole.
Habitat
Narwhals live in the Arctic Ocean near Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia.
Habitat and Environment
Environmental
Pressures
Environmental Pressures
Current
Current
Climate change causes ice to melt and more ice to form. When the ice forms, it could trap Narwhals in underwater caves and tunnels. When the ice melts, humans will be able to travel to their habitat and start hunting, looking for oil, and more boat activity.
Future
Future
As of now, Narwhals are nearly threatened around the globe and special concern in Canada. With these pressures, they could become endangered or even extinct because of hunting.
Environmental Impacts
Being large and having thick layers of blubber keeps the Narwhal warm up in the Arctic. The blubber also acts as a storage for food. Narwhals have also adapted to dive as deep down as 1,500m or 4,900 feet for 25 minutes. There are many things that help the Narwhal stay that deep for so long. They only hold the minimum amount of air which prevents the air from being forced into the blood out of pressure. They can also slow down their heart rates which helps them retain oxygen. Narwhals also take large breaths before diving to get rid of the carbon dioxide. They also have a streamline shape which helps them swim faster and easier. Like whales, Narwhals have blowholes or nostrils on top of their heads so it is easier to breathe.
Environmental Impacts
Group Behaviors
Narwhals live in groups from 10 to 100 individuals on average, but can still form larger groups.
Group Behaviors
Sources
Bibliography
* https://endangerednarwhals.org/evolutionary-history/
* http://www.newanimal.org/meso.htm
* https://sites.google.com/site/theevolutionofnarwhals/calendar
* https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/Arctic_animals/narwhal-arctic-whale.php
* https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/unicorn-of-the-sea-narwhal-facts
* https://www.earthrangers.com/wildwire/omg_animals/climate-change-is-a-challenge-for-narwhals/