No, we are not talking about the luxury sports car. The tuatara is a reptile that’s even cooler. Found only on 37 small offshore islands in New Zealand, this rare creature is often mistaken for a lizard.
Don’t let their good looks fool you though, the tuatara is the last surviving member of the ancient order Sphenodontia, which thrived back when the dinosaurs ruled the Earth. In other words, it’s a true living fossil!
Tuatara reptiles are really interesting animals. For one, they can grow rather large. They grow until they are about 35 years old and can live past 60 with some even reaching 100 years old! Given their slow growth and metabolism, they can be surprisingly large. Adults can weigh up to 1.5 kilograms (~3 pounds) and grow to half a meter in length.
The males can raise the spines on their back to show off for females as well as ward off males. Unlike many other reptiles, tuatara are not bothered by cooler temperatures and live in burrows. What’s even more unique is that they do not have ear holes and they are born with a third eye embedded in their skull, whose purpose baffles scientists.
Because tuatara live only in New Zealand, efforts to protect them are vital. As the only living member of Sphenodontia, they also provide a window into Earth’s past.
Check out this YouTube video to learn more about tuatara:
Sources:
New Zealand Government website
YouTube
Categories: Comparative Physiology, Nature's Solutions
Tags: animals, evolution, extant, living fossil, New Zealand, Tuatara
Life Lines by Dr. Dolittle 