Experts believe that from their union a hybrid cetacean could be born, these creatures have been swimming together for years
in 2016 a narwhal cub, probably an orphan, had been adopted by a group of belugas and had since been monitored by researchers from GREMM, the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals, in the St. Lawrence Estuary in Canada. (Read also: This 'orphaned' narwhal was adopted by the belugas (VIDEO)
The expanded group had been spotted continually swimming together in spectacular scenery, as if they had perfectly welcomed the latest arrival despite being a narwhal and not a beluga.
The very special meeting, from which a solid bond seems to have been born, could give birth to a hybrid species since, according to experts, the narwhal would now have reached sexual maturity. Researchers estimate the narwhal is now 12 years old. This would be a very unique event despite narwhals being familiar with belugas. Both cetaceans have many features in common such as social behavior, but certainly not the very long, vine-like tooth that distinguishes the narwhal and which has earned it the title of "Arctic marine unicorn".
In the next few years we will probably start looking for not only that one lost narwhal, but perhaps also its descendants "
said Robert Michaud, scientific director of GREMM who has been studying whales for over 35 years and confirms that it is not the first time a hybrid could be born because the union between narwhals and belugas has already occurred throughout history, as a Danish study also proves, but it is nonetheless a very rare event.
It is not certain that it can happen this time as well, but the chances of having a "narluga" are nevertheless discrete. To make this happen one must observe the behaviors of the narwhal. It is up to this solitary cetacean to impose itself on the other males so that it can be considered as their equal and mate with the female belugas.
Fonte: CBC Radio
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