The tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) is a species of reptile endemic to New Zealand. Despite its close resemblance to lizards, it is actually the only extant member of a distinct lineage, the previously highly diverse order Rhynchocephalia. [8] The name tuatara is derived from the Māori language and means "peaks on the back". [9]

Feb 21, 2025 · tuatara, (Sphenodon puntatus), a species of moderately large lizardlike reptiles endemic to New Zealand, specifically to North Island, roughly 30 islets off the island’s northeast coast, and a handful of islets in the Cook Strait.

Tuatara are a rare reptile found only in New Zealand. They are the last survivors of an order of reptiles that thrived in the age of the dinosaurs. Found in: Tuatara once lived throughout mainland New Zealand but now only survive in the wild on 32 islands. Threats: Rats, mice, habitat destruction, poaching, low genetic diversity.

The Tuatara is a reptile of the family Sphenodontidae, endemic to New Zealand. The two species of tuatara are the only surviving members of the Sphenodontians who flourished around 200 million years ago.

A unique reptile: Not too many creatures can claim to be “one of a kind,” but that’s a boast the tuatara can make. In fact, the tuatara is among the most unusual wildlife in the world. Although it looks like a lizard, it really is quite different.

Looking like something straight out of medieval legend, the tuatara’s unlikely existence and unusual traits weave a narrative of what might have been. What looks like a baby dragon, sports a vestigial third eye, and can live over 100 years? Why, the tuatara of course. It might look like a wrinkly, big-headed iguana, but don’t be fooled.

Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) are reptiles endemic to New Zealand. The name tuatara is derived from the Māori language and means "peaks on the back". The single extant species of tuatara is the only surviving member of its order. Their closest living relatives are squamates (lizards and snakes).

May 27, 2024 · The tuatara is an animal native to New Zealand, and it is the country’s largest reptile. Males can grow to be nearly three feet in length, and adult females typically grow to be about two feet long.

Dec 4, 2012 · What is a tuatara? The tuatara is a modern reptile found only in New Zealand (Figure 1). Although it superficially looks like a medium-sized lizard it is in fact the only living member of the Rhynchocephalia, a group of animals that were successful, globally distributed, and ecologically diverse during the Mesozoic, alongside dinosaurs.

Dec 17, 2015 · Tuatara are modest size reptiles and grow up to 60 cm long. They have a line of spikes that runs down the length of their spine. Their spikes gave them the name ‘Tuatara’ which means ‘spiny back’ in Te Reo Māori, the language of the indigenous people of New Zealand.