In Post Captain,
Captain Aubrey gives Dr. Maturin a narwhal (Monodon monoceros, aver.
length 16 ft.) tusk. The Doctor thanks him and replies, "It is perfect
- the very apotheosis of a tooth." Even though these tusks
were passed off as unicorn horns, they are (as you can see), the left front
incisor of the male narwhal. Narwhals are toothed whales, but the
males alone have this one tooth, and the females have none at all.
In The Hundred Days, there is a discussion about the function
of this tusk, and almost 200 years later we still do not have a definite
answer. They cannot be used for feeding, as the females do not have
a tusk and obviously must obtain food too. There is little evidence
that they are used for defense or combat.
I think they are used for display, that is to attract the
female narwhals. Among marine mammals, the female provides all the
extra care needed to raise the next generation. She provides the
extra calories to support the unborn calf, she provides the extra calories
for the young after birth in the form of milk. She provides the instruction
on how to breathe, where to travel, and what to eat. All the male
provides is his genetic heritage. The female is obviously looking
for the best genes she can find, as she is going to invest so much of her
time and effort. This long tusk advertises the good health and survival
skills of the male. That is something like a platinum card, a Lexus, and
Armani clothes for the human male, and leads to the same result.
Well, this is a lot of mammals,
but there is one reptile that we have to talk about.