The beluga and narwhal are closely related. They both belong to the family of toothed whales (Monodontidae) and are similar in size, which is rather small by whale standards.  The bowhead is a baleen whale.  Its teeth have been replaced by whalebone, or baleen, which is made of fringed plates of agglutinated hairs suspended from the upper jaw. The beluga and bowhead whales lack a dorsal fin, which is believed to be an adaptation to ice-infested arctic waters.

Muktuk (the outer skin plus a portion of the blubber layer) is a prized delicacy.  It is also an important source of nutrition, since it is rich in vitamin C. Eaten raw when fresh, it is also boiled and canned in plastic pails.  It remains "good" for about 7 months, after which it becomes very strong-tasting, although some do not object to the flavour. The meat is cut into long strips and dried, smoked and bagged.  Most of it is eaten (dipped in whale oil), but some of it is fed to dogs.