Facts about Tuatara

1. 08

   Classified as the sole surviving member of the order Rhynchocephalia, tuatara have no close living relatives among modern reptiles.

   TuataraJun 8sharetaxonomybiologyevolution
2. 07

   Tuatara eggs require 12 to 15 months to incubate, the longest gestation period of any reptile, and hatchlings emerge fully independent without parental care.

   TuataraMay 14sharereproductiondevelopmentbiology
3. 06

   Male tuatara engage in ritualistic head-bobbing displays lasting up to 30 minutes during territorial conflicts with rival males.

   TuataraMay 14sharebehaviorbiologyreproduction
4. 05

   Tuatara body temperature averages only 16-21°C, making them the coldest-bodied reptile and allowing them to thrive in New Zealand's cool temperate climate where other reptiles cannot survive.

   TuataraMay 14sharebiologytemperatureadaptation
5. 04

   During the Mesozoic Era, tuatara ancestors coexisted with dinosaurs, and today's tuatara remains virtually unchanged in morphology for approximately 200 million years.

   TuataraMay 14shareevolutionancientpaleontology
6. 03

   Tuatara teeth consist of a continuous tooth ridge rather than individual teeth, requiring them to bite through prey like a pair of scissors with their upper and lower jaws.

   TuataraMay 14shareanatomyevolutionbiology
7. 02

   New Zealand's tuatara can survive 100 years in the wild and reproduce successfully well into their 60s, making them among the longest-living reptiles.

   TuataraMay 14sharelifespanreproductionbiology
8. 01

   The tuatara's third eye, called the parietal eye, remains functional throughout its life and is positioned on top of its head beneath the skin.

   TuataraMay 14sharebiologyanatomyevolution