Tuatara

Facts on Tuatara-Reptiles

Tuatara inhabit every continent except for Antarctica.

Tuatara were originated (Created) around 310 to 320 million years ago, during the carboniferous period ( the system of rocks deposited during it).

All off the Tuatara are cold blooded animals.

Cold blooded animals are animals that varieys the tempureture of their environment.

They have dry skin and scales on their body.

Many off the Tuatara have four legs but some don’t.

Some Tuatara lay eggs.

All off the Tuatara breathe using their lungs like humans.

Most Tuatara are insectivorous or carnivorous.

Insectivorouis means they eat worms, insects, and other invertebrates. Carnivorous means they eat meat from other animals.

Tuatara also have a backbone which means they are vertebrates.

Vertebrates are animals that have a back bone and invertebrates are animals that have no backbone.

The Tuatara are endemic (Native and restricted) to New zealand.

Tuatara are greenish-brown and gray in colour.

It’s colour is the same with its environment.

Adult Tuatara shed their skin at least once a year.

The young Tuatara shed their skin 3-4 times a year.

Their average lifespan is up to 60 years but they can live up to 100 years.

These are all the species that are Tuatara:

Turtles, Lizards, Snakes and tortoises are reptiles.

Before humans came the enemy’s of the Tuatara was the large birds,

But in 2019 their predators are cats, dogs, ferrets, stoats, rats and possums.

Their species have lasted for 200 million years.

The male is much bigger than female.

It is a sole survivor off the beak-heads which is a group of very ancient Tuatara.

The other name for the Tuatara is a “living fossil”.

The other Māori name for The Reptiles is Ngaarara.

The Tuatara is named for it’s apperance- Tara means spiny and Tua means back.

Tuatara-Spiny back

Ngaarara are believed too be assorted from punga, children too Tangaroa.

I orea te Tuatara ka patu ki waho

The Tuatara sounded and struck out

A problem is solved by continuing too find solutions

Here are some questions about Tuatara.

What does the Tuatara hide in its body?

 A. third eye

 b. horn

 C. tail