Narwhal is not kosher according to Jewish dietary law. A marine mammal, not a fish. Mammals are kosher only if they both chew the cud and have split hooves, which narwhal does not, so it is not kosher.

What is the scientific name of Narwhal?

The scientific name of Narwhal is Monodon monoceros.

Does Narwhal have fins and scales?

Narwhal does not meet the requirement of having both fins and removable scales. Leviticus 11:9-12 requires fish to have both fins and scales to be considered kosher.

Can I eat Narwhal sushi or sashimi?

No. Since Narwhal is not kosher, it should not be consumed in any preparation, including sushi or sashimi.

Where can I find more information about whether Narwhal is kosher?

KosherFish.co references the Orthodox Union (OU) and Chabad lists of kosher and non-kosher fish. For specific halachic questions, consult your local Orthodox rabbi.

Narwhal

Monodon monoceros

Not Kosher

No fins or scales

Fins No

Scales No

Description

The narwhal is a species of toothed whale native to the Arctic. It is the only member of the genus Monodon and one of two living representatives of the family Monodontidae.

The narwhal is an Arctic whale found in the cold waters around Greenland, Canada, and Russia. Males are known for the long, spiral tusk that grows from the head.

Narwhal in foreign languages

Scientific	Monodon monoceros
Hebrew	חדשן
Arabic	الحوت المرقط
Spanish	Narval
Portuguese	Narval
French	Narval
Italian	narvàlo
German	Narwal
Greek	Ναρβάλ
Russian	Нарвал
Turkish	Deniz gergedanı
Chinese	一角鲸
Japanese	イッカク
Korean	외뿔고래
Vietnamese	Kỳ lân biển
Thai	นาร์วาล
Indonesian	narwhal

Gallery

Narwhal — Alive — Alive · Numbersinstitute / CC BY-SA 4.0

Narwhal — Whole on ice — Whole on ice · Joachim von Sandrart the Elder / Public domain

Warnings & Kosher Issues

A narwhal is a mammal, not a fish, so it is not kosher.
Narwhals are protected in the United States under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with hunting limited to Indigenous subsistence in the Arctic.