Unicorns don’t exist, but narwhals do!

And the solution to the ‘code monkey’ or ‘pixel monkey’ dilemma

What is a narwhal?

I think we all know what a ‘code monkey’ or ‘pixel monkey’ is… so what is the ‘code monkey’ dilemma…? I am glad you asked. Here’s a link for those that don’t find the topic distasteful.

Now onto the main topic.

When you type “define: unicorn” into the Google search bar:

a mythical animal typically represented as a horse with a single straight horn projecting from its forehead.

And when you type “define: narwhal”:

a small Arctic whale, the male of which has a long forward-pointing spirally twisted tusk developed from one of its teeth

First, the similarities…

Both creatures are pretty cool, and you can argue that a horn looks kind of like a tusk (in some cases they might even have similar functions thanks to convergent evolution) so they both have something that is long and pointy sticking out of their head.

horn: a hard permanent outgrowth, often curved and pointed, found in pairs on the heads of cattle, sheep, goats, giraffes, etc. and consisting of a core of bone encased in keratinized skin.

tusk: a long pointed tooth, especially one which protrudes from the closed mouth, as in the elephant, walrus, or wild boar; a long, tapering object or projection resembling a tusk.

So you could even argue that a tusk could be a horn since it resembles a tusk?

Then the differences…

Well, a unicorn seems to be a terrestrial creature, but with its magical powers it can probably fly (in the presence of a rainbow?) or when cross bred with species of Pegasus equus. The swimming abilities of unicorns are unknown, but you’d be a brave person to bet that a whale, especially a small one, could give the unicorn a run for its money (if the unicorn doesn’t use its magic).

If a unicorn loses its horn the conventional wisdom might be that it simply becomes a horse and will probably still survive. If a narwhal loses its specialized tooth, something that has evolved over quite a number of years and presumably that makes it either very useful or critical to its survival, one assumes that it will be detrimental to its health and well-being.

Apparently some narwhals can have two elongated tooths, but I have never seen unicorns depicted with two horns. A rhinoceros can have two horns but they are seldom mistaken for unicorns.

Oh yeah, and narwhals are NOT mythical creatures… they are REAL

Lessons learnt

• Don’t try to find unicorns at pet stores or zoos if you are looking for a suitable animal to add to the corporate jungle
• Don’t try to put narwhals in the corporate jungle with code monkeys and pixel monkeys… terrestrial and aquatic creatures don’t co-exist well
• Do recognize that monkeys and whales are both mammals, so they both breath oxygen and are warm blooded animals (so they probably like to be cuddled occasionally)