In the cold waters of the Arctic, a mysterious animal swims discreetly: the narluga, a rare hybrid animal between a narwhal and a beluga. Discovered thanks to DNA analyzes on an atypical skull found in Greenland, this cetacean fascinates with its unique characteristics and raises questions about the future of Arctic marine ecosystems. But what do we really know about this enigmatic creature?
The narluga, the astonishing union between narwhal and beluga
The narluga was identified for the first time in 2019, thanks to genetic analyzes carried out on a skull discovered almost thirty years earlier in Greenland. This atypical skull, with its wide jaw and particularly robust teeth, intrigued scientists with its unusual appearance. After years of research, analyzes confirmed that it belonged to a hybrid: the descendant of a female narwhal and a male beluga. This hybridization is particularly surprising because the long, twisted tusk of male narwhals is generally considered a secondary sexual trait, an attribute that male belugas do not possess.
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Narwhals and belugas both belong to the Monodontidae family, but their appearances and behaviors differ widely. Narwhals are famous for their long spiral tusk, a developed incisor that mainly possesses males, while belugas, nicknamed “canaries of the sea”, are known for their white color and their complex vocalizations. The narluga presents intermediate characteristics, a mixture of the two parental species.
Who is really the narluga?
If the narluga remains an enigma, the information available thanks to the analyzes carried out on the skull makes it possible to draw up a rough portrait. Unlike narwhals, which feed mainly on fish and squid that they suck in, due to reduced teeth, the narluga seems to have a more varied diet thanks to its strong teeth, capable of crushing prey such as crustaceans. This characteristic suggests that it may occupy a different ecological niche than its two parents.
-Behaviorally, it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions, as no living narluga have yet been observed in their natural habitat. However, researchers assume that it could adopt hybrid social behavior, combining the gregarious habits of belugas, often seen in large groups, and the more discreet habits of narwhals.
Another major question mark concerns the narluga’s ability to reproduce. Although many animal hybrids, such as the mule or the liger, are sterile, no study has yet determined whether the narluga can give birth to offspring.
A witness to the Arctic upheavals
The discovery of narluga also raises questions about the impact of global warming. With the rapid melting of the sea ice, the territories of narwhals and belugas, once distinct, are increasingly overlapping. This increased cohabitation could encourage further hybridization between these species, making the narluga an indicator of ongoing ecological changes in the Arctic.
Scientists hope that studying this rare hybrid will provide a better understanding of interspecies interactions and adaptation mechanisms in changing environments. But the narluga, by its simple existence, also reminds us of the fragility of marine ecosystems and the urgency of preserving these unique regions.
