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A '''Narvhal''' is a [[Tyranid]] [[bio-ships|Bio-ship]] that fulfills the essential role of allowing all the vessels of a Tyranid [[Hive Fleet]] to travel faster than light. This ability makes up for a Narvhal ship being being small, innocuous, and having almost no weaponry or armour. <sup>1</sup>
Tyranids do not travel via [[Warp jump]]s, such as the [[Imperium]] does, and so instead rely on their Narvhal ships. Through the use of monofilament spines clustered along a Narvhal's bow which can interpret a wide range of sensory input and even a broad spectrum of gravimetric signals, a Narvhal can detect the presence of a planetary [[Systemsystem]] at an incredible distance away. It can then somehow harness the system's gravity to create a corridor of compressed-space through which Tyranid vessels can travel towards the system at a swift rate. Whilst slower than proper warp travel, this method is infinitely more reliable.<sup>1</sup>
However, strong gravitational forces cause interference with a Narvhal's delicate senses. And so on final approach to a system, a Tyranid fleet can no longer use a Narvhal's ability but must resort to slower conventional propulsion whilst within a system's borders. This will often slow their arrival by years or even decades.<sup>1</sup>