Gourt > Kids and Teens > School Time > Science > Living Things > Animals > Reptiles and Amphibians > Reptiles > Tuataras
- For the experimental music band, see Tuatara (band)
The tuataras are two species of reptile found in New Zealand. They are the only surviving members of the Rhynchocephalia, or Sphenodontia/Sphenodontida and have been classified as endangered species since 1895. Tuataras, like many native New Zealand animals, were threatened by habitat loss, harvesting, and introduced species such as mustelids and rats, and were extinct on the mainland with the remaining populations confined to 32 mammal free offshore islands, until a first mainland release into the heavily fenced and monitored Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in 2005.
They resemble lizards, but are actually equally distantly related to lizards and snakes, which are their closest living relatives. For this reason, they are of great interest in the study of the evolution of lizards and snakes, as well as efforts to infer the appearance and habits of the earliest diapsids.
More on [ Tuatara ]
Biological Diversity 2001 - Rhynchocephalia - Classification, photos, description, history, and conservation issues.
Sphenodon punctatus (Tuatara) - Description from the Animal Diversity Web, covering geographic range, physical characteristics, natural history, and endangered species status.
The Extinction of Tuataras Will Not Be Our Fault - An article describing an alternative view to the potential extinction of this species.
Tuatara - Personal site with factoids and pictures of this New Zealand reptile.
Meta Description: [ Portrait of Tuatara, a living fossil of New Zealand whose relatives became extinct 100 million years ago. ]
Tuatara - Fact sheet from the Mt. Bruce National Wildlife Centre, illustrated with photographs.
Meta Description: [ New Zealand National Wildlife Centre for conservation of endangered species, environmental education, ecotourism, restoring kiwi, kokako, kaka and other wildlife to Pukaha forest ]
Tuatara Facts - List of facts about the New Zealand native reptile.
Meta Description: [ The Tuatara, NZ natural history facts, New Zealand Guide Book - weather, language, food, music, history. ]
Tuatara: Reptile With a Third Eye - WWF educational fact sheet, including an illustration.
Tuataras - Saint Louis Zoo - Photos, characteristics, conservation status, and scientific name.
| lizards | |
| Next Video | |
