#narwhals

"ALL FOR ONE, AND ONE FOR ALL!"

The narwhal (Monodon monoceros), an iconic whale of remote Arctic waters, is widely known for its long, spiral tusk, which is really an elongated tooth. The tusk, which is predominantly found in males and can grow up to 10 feet long, is one of the most fascinating traits in nature and the inspiration for myths such as the unicorn. It is believed to play a role in competition for mates, including mating displays. The tusk may have other uses and its function is still debated, primarily because few people have observed how these elusive animals use their tusks in the wild. Limited field observations also mean that little is known about many other aspects of the behavior of this highly gregarious Arctic whale, including social and reproductive behaviors, how they adapt to changing environmental conditions, or whether narwhals engage in behaviors that are not linked directly to fitness, like play.

Narwhals by Louis A. Sargent. From Wild Beasts of the World, Vol. Two. Written by Frank Finn, published in 1909.

Here is my artwork for the @polarlightszine!

I chose the Narwhal as a subject, along with his common prey, the Armhook Squid. I had a lot of fun working on this piece! It's my first time combining my traditional ink drawings with digital colourization, and I'm quite happy with the result :) I'll definitely experiment more with this technique.