Bowhead Whales May Live for More Than 200 Years
Evidence suggests that bowhead whales can live for more than 200 years.
Possibly more than 200 years. NOAA Fisheries says their lifespan is unknown, but evidence suggests bowhead whales can live over 200 years.
Explanation
Nobody knows exactly how long a bowhead whale can live, and NOAA Fisheries lists the lifespan as unknown. The evidence points to a very long time. Stone harpoon tips recovered from harvested bowheads make it evident that the whales live well over 100 years, and NOAA Fisheries says newer techniques for estimating age suggest they may live to be over 200 years old. Bowheads are built for the Arctic. They live almost exclusively in Arctic and subarctic waters with seasonal sea ice. Their blubber layer is 17 to 19 inches thick, thicker than that of any other whale. The bow-shaped skull can be over 16.5 feet long, about a third of the body length, and it is strong enough to break through sea ice 8 inches thick.
Source and verification
- Source
- NOAA Fisheries Tier A
- Last verified
- Confidence
- 85 out of 100
- Verified by
- Ali Ahmad Chaudhry