Disclaimer: Idk if I spelled his name right and I'm too lazy to verify

Ok, that guy from A Return To Your Roots quest in Skyrim that was the Nirnroot guy in Oblivion, that is who I am referring to in my following question: since Skyrim takes place 200 years after Oblivion how did he live that long?!? That Dark Elf in the quest (in Skyrim) says she studied under Sinderion so clearly they knew each other. Can High Elves live for 200 years?

EDIT: I'm tired and I'm not sure my question made any sense so if it doesn't just ask me to clarify and I'll do my best thanks!

That one's a bit of an easter egg so i won't spoil it for you also high elves can live for a few thousend years at least no problem. I'd give a hint on said easter egg but while i was away i seem to have forggoten how to use spoiler tags

In most fantasy, elves can live for a very long time, so yeah, I'd assume its true for skyrim as well

Traditionally, Elves (except Orcs) in Tamriel live for more than 200 years, at least.

If I remember correctly he has lived longer than most because of properties of the Nirnroot.

in morrowind you meet an elf that is 4000 years old so 200 is not that long or uncommon for an elf

"A few thousand years" are major exceptions to the rule. I'd guess the typical high elf age to be maybe 300ish about.

Depending on the elf it is.

Commoner dark elves have about the same lifespan as most men.
Nobles tend to reach the 300-500 range or so.
Wizards around 1000 through the use of magic.
Fyr was a special case. As you said he was pushing 4000 when you meet him in morrowind. But his age is extremely exceptional.

High Elves are usually longer lived because they focus on prolonging their lives in any way they can. Some even http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Phynaster#Phynaster because shorter stride apparently caused them to live for 100 more years.

Orsimer(Orcs) have the shortest lifespan of all the tamrielic races(Except maybe some of the khajiit offshoots such as Alfiq. Not sure here). Not sure on the Bosmer.

True. i think it's mainly the powerful magic users that make it into the thousends.

He doesn't count, uber mages get to live a really long time. Uber Elf mages are ageless.

I don't know about that, Brand-Shei grew up a commoner.(in Black Marsh no less) yet he's nearly 200 having been born a few years after Red Mountain erupted. Because most commoners would die of disease, starvation, exposure, war or big F monsters by age 50. One could more accurately say that poor Dunmer live about the same lifespan as most men.

Avrusa Sarethi is a commoner but she'd old enough to have had a shop in Vivic City, so clearly all Dunmer have extended lifespans.

I haven't found any info on the lifespan of the Orsimer, which makes me wonder when Urag talks about protecting the library since the second era (I know he can't be that old, but he talks about it as if he was there). IIRC all Mer have lifespans well over 200 years.

I don't remember where I read this (and if the source was legitimate or not), but I recall reading that the Orcs were cursed by a god for betraying someone or something. That's really all I remember
It's possible Urag has used magic to prolong his life, but I doubt he would have been around since the second era.

EDIT: http://www.imperial-library.info/content/varieties-faith-empire
Doesn't really explain much, but it at least says that the Orismer now have shorter life spans

I think an Orc could live as long as a few hundred years if they chose to not have children who will try and kill them when they are showing signs of age or weakness to displace them in society, The Old Orc who wishes a good death is an example of why the race does not hve many really old members. I think the Orkey in Ni!'s linked story is Arkay, and the Orcs were assumed to be his followers because they are Aldmeric.
Reading a new signature is not fun when you almost waste a good breakfast sandwich from having to laugh.

You know men don't have the same lifespan as real life men right?(Although they are pretty close)

I recall a retired imperial legionary mentioning he was expecting to hit 150.

As already mentioned, elves are blessed with extented longevity.....

Unless your a Thalmor patrolling or escorting prisoners in skyrim, http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/578955258341937144/8D02C420A369D940A20180D6E24E33F7713D107D/