The teeth of the tuatara, and almost all other rhynchocephalians, are described as acrodont, as they are attached to the apex of the jaw bone. This contrast with the pleurodont condition found in the vast majority of lizards, where the teeth are attached to the inward-facing surface of the jaw.

Nov 25, 2016 · Skeleton of a tuatara, reconstructed from CT scans. By Sophie Regnault with John Hutchinson and Marc Jones Sesamoid bones are specialised, typically small, bones found in tendons near to joints, with several unusual characteristics.

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 long-lived species, averaging 80 years, with many living to 100. Because their ‘teeth’ are sharp boney protrusions which are fused to the skull and wear down with age, older, toothless, tuatara must eat soft foods.

Dec 4, 2012 · What is characteristic about tuatara? Tuatara exhibit a number of unusual characteristics that include a specialised feeding mechanism, unusual skull structure, cold-adapted physiology, and extreme longevity.

ABSTRACT: The study of bone rings in the phalanges and femurs of tuatara (Sphenodon punc-tatus) from Stephens and Lady Alice islands suggests that the rings form annually. This being so, tuatara reach sexual maturity at between nine and 13 yr of age, depending upon individuals and populations. Growth rate appears to increase with temperature.

Tuatara are sometimes said to lack true teeth, possessing instead serrations on the jaw bone: this is not true: tuatara do have teeth, but they are fused to the jaw bone without an obvious boundary.

The male tuatara displays a striking crest down the back of the neck, and another down the middle of the back. The female has a less developed version of this. Unlike all other living toothed reptiles, the tuatara's teeth are fused to the jaw bone (acrodont tooth structure).

Jan 13, 2016 · One especially useful outgroup is the tuatara. This lizard-like reptile is the last survivor of a group of animals that split off from lizards 250 million years ago, and is their closest living relative. We set about studying the knee joints of tuatara to compare them with our data for true lizards. The tuatara: not a lizard, but a close relative.

Jan 31, 2018 · The vertebrae found in a tuatara spine resemble those in fish and some amphibians, rather than lizards. Their ribs have bony processes more typical of crocodiles than lizards.