... shorter life expectancy, but then again most mariners did! Blame it on life at sea. It was rough, nutrition was poor, and although sailing was hard work, one still didn't get the exercise that they would living on land in an era where you mostly walked everywhere you went. Ships of that era were quite small. read more
Hollywood seems to make them out to be old and grizzled. They had a shorter life expectancy, but then again most mariners did! Blame it on life at sea. read more
Life expectancy for men pressed into service was no more than two years. Many crews mutinied against their officers or just surrendered when threatened by pirates. Then they either became pirates themselves to live or, if they ever returned to England, were tried and hung for the crime of mutiny. read more
They tend to have an average lifespan of 6-7 years. Sometimes it depends on whether the possum is male or female. For smaller species such as the Eastern Pygmy Possum, it varies hugely for males and females. Females average 11 years, but males usually only live to four years. read more