What Are Lathanites In Star Trek? The Species Explained

Of course, Lanthanies aren’t the only species on “Star Trek” that lives significantly longer than humans. On “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) was able to meet the elderly Vulcan Spock (Leonard Nimoy) who had simply gone on living since the original “Star Trek” series. Vulcans, we learn, can live over 200 years, if they take care of themselves (and it’s logical to take care of yourself). Spock’s father, Sarek (Mark Lenard) lived to be 203. 

Then there’s the Denobulans from “Star Trek: Enterprise.” It’s implied that Denobulans — the species of Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley) — can live over 300 years, as the good doctor’s grandmother lived through several vicious wars from that long ago.

On “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” Dax (Terry Farrell) was a Trill, and they have incredibly long-lives. Sort of. The Trill is a conjoining of two species, a humanoid host and a worm-like entity that is surgically implanted in their abdomen. The worm entity can live about 550 years, but has to move between its hosts, which can only live for about 80 to 100. Dax is 20, but also 357.

Also on “Next Generation,” audiences met Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg), a member of the El Aurian species. El Aurians look like humans, have a very mellow life philosophy, and can live many centuries. Guinan was an adult on Earth in 1893 and used to tool around with Mark Twain (Jerry Hardin). Guinan, then, was at least 490. She also once mentioned that her father was still alive, and that he was 700. Guinan, being a private person, has never revealed how long El Aurians can live. 

In the original “Star Trek” episode “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” (January 10, 1969) two characters name Bele and Lokai (Frank Gorshin and Lou Antonio), from the planet Charon, claimed to have been hunting one another for 50,000 years. Happy birthday!

And that’s not even counting magnetic organisms or godlike entities that can live for millions of years. “Star Trek” operates on quite a long timeline.