Work

Estimating age and annual tooth growth rates in narwhals ( Monodon monoceros ) using computed tomography

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: The spiraling tooth of the narwhal ( Monodon monoceros ) has long intrigued scientists, but the growth rates of its “tusk” are poorly known due to the difficulty to age narwhal. To learn more about the population dynamics and life history of this exploited species, previous studies have used sectioned teeth to age narwhals and calibrate other ageing methods based on aspartic acid racemization, radiocarbon or trace element analysis. However, few such studies have been conducted due to the method’s difficulty and the need to sacrifice the tooth. In this study, computed tomography (CT) was used on five teeth as a non-destructive means of estimating the age of narwhals, revealing different growth rates between erupted and embedded teeth during adolescence. Moreover, in combination with our reanalysis of all relevant literature, CT data clarify the annual growth rates of narwhal tusks, which peak before the age of 10 ( ∼ 100 mm yr − 1 ). This approach will be useful for investigating private and museum collections, and might also improve the use of trace element proxies in narwhal teeth and support sustainable harvest management.

Source: bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

DOI: 10.64898/2026.08.27.747649

Authors: Evgeny A. Podolskiy, Genya Shimbo, Sung-Min Park

Institutions: Hokkaido University, Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center, Dankook University

Language: English

Topic: Marine animal studies overview

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: green

Funder: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology