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 …

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 …

The name “tuatara” is a Maori word meaning “peaks on back” or “spiny back.” Tuataras have no external ears as lizards do; they enjoy cooler weather, while lizards like it warm; and, unlike …

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 …

Jul 21, 2025 · Tuatara are found only in New Zealand, where they’re the country’s largest endemic reptile. Fossils evidence indicates they were once widespread across both the North …

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.

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 …

Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) are reptiles endemic to New Zealand. The name tuatara is derived from the Māori language and means "peaks on the back". The single extant species of …

This rare reptile is often mistaken for a lizard, but the Tuatara is a unique species from the time of the dinosaurs. Where are Tuataras found? Tuataras are native to Aotearoa New Zealand.

Tuataras are dragon-like creatures measuring up to 80 centimetres in length. They are the last surviving member of an ancient lineage of animals that originated in the Triassic era, some 250...