Like some other living vertebrates, including some lizards, the tuatara has a third eye on the top of its head called the parietal eye (also called a pineal or third eye) formed by the parapineal organ, with an accompanying opening in the skull roof called the pineal or parietal foramen, enclosed by the parietal bones. [63]

The tuatara has a third eye on the top of its head called the ‘parietal eye’. It has its own lens, cornea, retina with rod-like structures and degenerated nerve connection to the brain, suggesting it evolved from a real eye.

Tuataras have no external ears as lizards do; they enjoy cooler weather, while lizards like it warm; and, unlike lizards, tuataras are nocturnal. But their most curious body part is a “third eye” on the top of the head. The “eye” has a retina, lens, and nerve endings, yet it is not used for seeing.

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.

May 1, 2018 · The tuatara, like many other reptiles and amphibians, has a parietal eye – a ‘third eye’ on top of its head. A juvenile’s parietal eye is a translucent patch. The organ soon becomes covered with opaque scales as the animal develops. The tuatara’s third eye is …

They have five claws on each limb and three rows of sharp teeth in their mouth. They have a third eye on the top of the head, though this is only visible in very young tuatara because it becomes covered in scales as the animal grows. Found only on some of the remote islands of New Zealand. 60 years; may live up to 120 years.

However, modern tuatara also have a vestigial eye on the top of their head, visible in juveniles but covered with a thin layer of scales in adults. Called a “parietal eye,” this third eye sports a retina, lens and degenerated nerves connected to the brain.

Tuatara have a third eye on the top of their head called the parietal eye. The parietal eye is visible only in hatchlings, which have a translucent patch at the top centre of the skull. After 4-6 months, it becomes covered with opaque scales and pigment.

Dec 3, 2017 · Tuatara were named by the Māori for the spiny ‘peaks’ that run along their backs, but perhaps their most intriguing feature is the third eye that sits on the top their head.

The tuatara’s most distinctive feature is the presence of a third “parietal” eye on the top of its head, which is visible in juveniles but becomes covered with scales in adults. This eye is thought to regulate circadian rhythms and detect light cycles.