How long do they live? Well over 200 years old if they avoid being harpooned. One was estimated to be 211 years old thanks to some very old harpoon gear stuck in its blubber, coincidentally it was newer har
How long do they live? Well over 200 years old if they avoid being harpooned. One was estimated to be 211 years old thanks to some very old harpoon gear stuck in its blubber, coincidentally it was newer harpoons that got him in the end. These whales start to slow down aging around 40 to 50 years old. The genome of this giant has been sequenced and 2 genetic factors may contribute to their long lifespans, one being a mutation in the gene ERCC1, which is involved with DNA repair and replication. This could also be why the Bowhead whale doesn’t show signs of cancer with aging. Also found was a duplicated section of DNA in the gene PCNA, which is responsible for DNA repair and cell growth and may also contribute to how the Bowhead whale achieves longevity.
Where are they found? Really cold ocean water: Arctic and sub-arctic areas, see figure 1.
What do they eat? Bowhead whales use something called baleen plates to filter water and take in plankton. So, they’re pretty much gentle giants, and easy targets for harpoons, see figure 2.
What do they look like? Bowhead whales are one of the largest whales in the world (the blue whale is the largest) and they can grow to 55 feet in length and weigh 100 tons. That’s just, wow.
How do they reproduce? Through sexual reproduction. The average age of sexual maturity for bowhead whales is 15 – 20 years old and they usually only birth 1 calf at a time, every 4 – 7 years. I can’t seem to nail down any information on when the Bowhead whale stops reproducing.
How do scientists know how old they are? Rather than just make a guess based on the 