|
|
Narwhal Tusk
Ivory
From Eclipse Sound, Baffin Island
Dating to the early 20th century
HC3544 |
| The narwhal tusk is a tooth —
one of a pair in the animal's upper jaw. Teeth of the
female remain embedded in the gum, but in the male the
left
tooth protrudes and can reach a length of 275 cm
(9 feet). As the tusk grows it twists; the result is a
straight tusk with a spiral structure. It is still uncertain
how the male narwhal uses his tusk. |
|
|
|
Atlantic Walrus Tusks
Ivory
From South Baffin Island
or eastern Hudson Bay
Dating to 1910-1914
Robert J. Flaherty Collection, Gift of Sir William Mackenzie
HC1905 & HC1906 |
| Walrus tusks are elongated upper canine teeth. In the Atlantic
Walrus the tusks can reach an average length of 36 cm (14 inches). The walrus
uses the tusks as weapons for defense and as hooks for hauling its body up onto
land and ice. |
|
