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]

Two hundred and twenty-five million years ago — about the time the first dinosaurs arrived on the scene — the ancestors of the tuatara were roaming the world. Now, 65 million years after the last Tyrannosaurus bit the dust, tuatara are still here, little changed from their ancient predecessors.

Feb 20, 2025 · The tuatara is a fascinating creature that roams the rugged landscapes of New Zealand, capturing the imagination of scientists and naturalists alike. Often referred to as a “living dinosaur,” this ancient reptile has defied the sands of time, maintaining its primordial features for over 200 million years.

Dec 3, 2017 · New Zealand’s Tuatara is one of the strangest and most unique creatures on Earth, and the fact that it’s the last of its kind in a lineage as old as the first dinosaurs is just the beginning. The bulk of the population lives across seven islands in Cook Strait, located between the main North and South Islands of New Zealand. There are about ...

May 11, 2017 · It’s a reptile that decapitates birds with its saw-like jaws, lives to about 100 years old, and can remain active in near-freezing temperatures. It’s also the sole survivor of a lineage as old as...

Jul 22, 2024 · Tuataras are reptiles, and though they may look like lizards at first glance, they are from an entirely different branch of the Lepidosauria group. They are part of the Rhynchocephalia order, which existed in the Jurassic Period.

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.

May 15, 2017 · It’s a reptile that decapitates birds with its saw-like jaws, lives to about 100 years old, and can remain active in near-freezing temperatures. It’s also the sole survivor of a lineage as old as the first dinosaurs. May 2017 marks 150 years since the …

May 27, 2024 · Is the tuatara a dinosaur? While it is not technically a dinosaur, the tuatara is unique in that it has remained relatively unevolved over the past 220 million years. They are sometimes called “living dinosaurs” because of their extremely primitive body structure.

Mar 23, 2008 · In a study of New Zealand's "living dinosaur" the tuatara, evolutionary biologist, and ancient DNA expert, Professor David Lambert and his team from the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular...