(Sphenodon punctatus)
(Sphenodon punctatus)
The
Tuatara is a very unusual reptile specie. It lives on islands on the off coast
of New Zealand. This nocturnal (most active by night) animal sleeps in a hole at
day and hunts at night. The Tuatara is not a lizard even though he looks like
one. He can live until the age of 60 and reach maturity only at 20 years old.
Tuataras are eaten by rodent, pigs, and wild cats.
The Tuatara anatomy
The
Tuatara has white dorsal crests on his back and along his tail. These reptiles
grow about 2 feet long (60 cm). A big difference with the other reptiles is that
his teeth are attached to the jaw bones. Tuataras’ has a third pineal “eye” on
his forehead.
The Tuatara diet
Tuataras are carnivores (meat eaters). They eat insects (like crickets), reptiles (like lizard), worms, snails, eggs, baby birds and even other Tuataras.
The Tuatara habitat
The Tuataras lived in New Zealand but they were extinct in the years 1800.
The Tuatara species
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There are two species of tuatara. The most common species is Sphenodon punctatus, the tuatara which is found on the Northern Islands. It is thought that the Cook Strait Islands tuatara is a subspecies of the Northern tuatara. S.punctatus has a brown-white appearance. The second species is the Brothers tuatara Sphenodon guntheri which is unique to Brothers Island and has an olive skin with yellow spots. |
Ulysses Pasquier 5ème (Mme Dubois-Pasquier)
References: www.mtbruce.doc.govt.nz/tuatara.htm
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