The New York Times had an article on the narwhal yesterday, the jist of which was that narwhals have been scientifically proven to be even cooler than previously believed.
According to the article, their tusks contain nerve endings that extend to the surface and can register changes in water temperature and salinity. Also, its name comes from the old Norse word for "corpse whale" because of its gray, blotchy skin. That's a really great, gruesome name, especially for an animal that always looks like it's smiling.
Biology, etymology, this article has it all. Plus it reminded me that I have long been a fan of the narwhal, so I made this here lino cut. It's the first one I've done in, well, a whole lot of months.
So thanks, narwhal! You're fantastic, and polar bears can eat a dick, as far as I'm concerned.