How long are bowhead whales believed to live?

• A. 50 years
• B. 100 years
• C. 150 years
• D. 200 years

Answer: (D)

Bowhead whales live unusually long lives for mammals. Scientists estimate that many bowheads age to about two centuries, with some individuals reaching roughly 200 years and the oldest known around 211 years old. This long lifespan is supported by multiple aging methods, such as counting growth layers in baleen plates and ear plugs, which accumulate in a way similar to tree rings and provide age estimates. In addition, rare findings like harpoon fragments embedded in old individuals offer historical evidence that these whales survive long enough to encounter historical whaling periods and later be counted as very old. Because of this strong, converging evidence, the best-supported answer is around 200 years.