Prolonged lifespan refers to extra-terrestrial races whose natural lifespans are greater than that of the average human being. In addition to an individual's maturation rate, the lifespan of a species may also vary based upon gender as well as certain environmental conditions. An Earth firefighter for example, who spends most of his time inhaling harmful toxic chemicals, can be expected to have a shorter lifespan than one who is not exposed to those types of situations.
Vulcans from the Star Trek franchise have a natural lifespan far in excess to that of a normal Earth human. The Vulcan ambassador Sarek was born in 2165 and died in 2368, making him 203-years-old at the time of his death. This appears to be an average expected mortality age for Vulcans. Klingons likewise appear to be very long-lived. One example is Kor, who was a venerated warrior with a rich military history as per his first appearance in 2267. He lived another 108 years, dying in the year 2375.
Other races known for being extremely long-lived include Asgardians, who are virtually immortal. However, they do continue to age albeit at a rate greatly less than that of a normal human. Atlanteans featured in the Marvel Universe are also extremely long-lived. For example, Prince Namor was a young adult when he first revealed himself to the surface world in 1939 and has aged very little since that time.
The Marvel Comics mutant Wolverine also ages at a greatly reduced rate. He was born sometime in the 1880s and possesses the physical characteristics of a man in his mid-thirties. In the case of Wolverine, this is a reflection of his accelerated healing factor, which purges the body of impurities and intoxicants that causes aging.
Characters with prolonged lifespans[]
Races with prolonged lifespans[]
| Name | Source |
|---|---|
| Amazons | DC Universe |
| Asgardians | Marvel Universe |
| Atlanteans | Marvel Universe |
| Vulcans | Marvel Universe |