The tuatara (/ tuːəˈtɑːrə /, Māori: [ˈtʉ.a.ta.ɾa]; Sphenodon punctatus) is a species of reptile endemic to New Zealand. Despite its close resemblance to lizards, it is the only extant member of a distinct lineage, the previously highly diverse order Rhynchocephalia. [7] The name tuatara is derived from the Māori language and means "peaks on the back". [8] The single extant species ...
Tuatara, a species of moderately large lizardlike reptiles endemic to New Zealand. Sphenodon punctatus, which, along with possibly others, inhabited the main islands before the arrival of the Maori people and the kiore, the Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans).
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. The tuataras resemble lizards, but are equally related to lizards and snakes, which are their closest living relatives. For this reason, tuataras are of great interest in the study of the ...
The tuatara cells took nearly four months to grow to sufficient numbers to freeze (most species require only four weeks), but it was a worthwhile effort: the preservation of genetic diversity through biobanking contributes to our understanding of this unique species and to global conservation efforts.
Tuatara Profile Being the “Largest reptile in New Zealand” is a bit like being the smartest cop in Texas, but statistical inevitability dictates there must be one, and in this case, it’s the Tuatara. A big lizard. And by big, we mean about 60 cm at best, and by lizard, we mean a unique and ancient lineage of reptile far more distantly related to lizards than you are to an echidna ...