EDIT: The pictures have become out of order...Therefore, you may have to look through them a bit. When looking, scroll right. Or, you could click on USER GALLERIES and find AintGotTime2Bleed...thats probably easier. Whatever toots your horn, or whatever.
Lifespan Estimateshttp://avpspectrum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=1&pos=0How old do predators get before they die? It is a question that has not been explored directly in any of the predator cannon. However, subtle clues are left here and there throughout each work involving them, and thusly an approximation can be made.
Such a clue is left in the trophy case of the Yautja in Predator 2 in the form of a skull (above). One can note the similarities between the two skulls already. The basic shape, the large teeth, and the eye sockets are all very similar to each other. The size is also an area of concern; they both dwarf human skulls by quite a bit, each looking capable of swallowing a human whole. The largest tyrannosaurus skull on record was five feet long, with teeth growing up to nine inches in length (23 centimetres). The average human skull is approximately 22 centimetres long and 17 centimetres wide, making the dinosaur's teeth longer than a human skull. In the picture below, you can see a comparative example of the creature's teeth in the predator trophy case versus those of a human skull;
http://avpspectrum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=1&pos=2 As you can see, the tooth is significantly smaller than the human skull. This could mean one of three things. The first is that this isn't a tyrannosaurus at all; it is perhaps a creature from another planet. The second is that it is an undeveloped tyrannosaurus/youngling, however why would a predator hunt something like that? Is it not more honourable to hunt something larger/tougher? (more on that in the Psychology section). The third is that it is another dinosaur beside a tyrannosaurus, yet equally large.
On that note, let us take a look at the unique features of the creature. The "nose" area looks far more porous (small holes around the nose area). It has far less teeth than the tyrannosaurus, and they appear to be in more disarray than its counterpart. Finally, the most distinguishable feature is the extended mandible bones, shown below compared to a predator:
http://avpspectrum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=1&pos=1 This brings up yet another question: are there any dinosaurs that are approximately the same size as a tyrannosaurus (judging by the similar skull sizes) and had such extended mandibles? The answer, unfortunately, is no (there have been no human findings of such a dinosaur. They are mostly crustaceans and insects). The importance of discovering if this skull matches that of any dinosaur on record is because it can put an approximate age to the skull. Predators are honourable, and thus are not likely to display the trophy case of anyone but their own. Therefore, if that was the trophy case of the Predator in Predator 2, we can safely assume that they were alive 60+ million years ago (the last time a carnivorous dinosaur of such size was seen). Another reason this hypothesis is further proven is in the condition of the skull; if it had been from 60 million plus years ago, it would not have looked so new (unless they have intense preservation technology. However, there seemed to be no barrier between Lieutenant Mike Harrigan and the trophy case, leading to the conclusion that there was no technological preservation, as seen in the force field around the eggs in Alien (1979)(shown Below)). The skull looked just as new as the freshly killed King Willie. Thus, the conclusion can safely be drawn that this is the skull of a creature from another world.
http://avpspectrum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=1&pos=3 However, all hope is not lost. Another clue is displayed in Predator 2 which puts an approximate date on their age. When Lieutenant Mike Harrigan killed the predator, the rest of the ships crew de-cloaks and takes it away. As they are leaving, one of them throws Lt. Harrigan a gun with the inscription "Raphael Adolini 1715". At that time the date was 1997, 282 years from the date on the guns inscription. Therefore, we can safely conclude that the predators live well over 200 years.
Another point to back up this hypothesis is in Alien vs. Predator (2004), when the Yautja ship comes down to retrieve their fallen comrade. Note the image below:
http://avpspectrum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=1&pos=4 This is the face and mask of the oldest Yautja on their ship. He has clearly hunted xenomorphs before (conclusion drawn from the highlighted symbol on his face and mask; the dead predator did the same after he had killed some xenomorphs as well). These occur every 100 years, meaning that this predator is at least over 100 years old (he was DEFINITELY NOT on the hunt portrayed in the film. Thus, it must have been a prior one). However, if we also assume that this one is much older than all the others on the ship, and they have all proven themselves men in the same fashion, then we can conclude that this predator is over 200 years old. This is, unfortunately, speculation, yet we are guaranteed that this one is AT LEAST 100 years old, and will live for many more years.
Given the evidence from the films, what can be concluded is that Predators have a lifespan of well over 100 years, with the date on the gun in Predator 2 leading to the hypothesis that they live well over 250 years.
