Tuatara

Categories: Animals | Reptiles | Science

  • The tuatara is an endangered reptile native to New Zealand. They are the only surviving members of the genus Sphenodon, a species that existed alongside the dinosaurs and is over 200 million years old.Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust: Tuatara Facts

    In January of 2009, "Henry," an 111-year-old tuatara at the Southland Museum, became a father for the first time after eleven of the eggs laid by his mate, 80-year-old "Mildred," hatched.BBC News: Reptile becomes a father, at 111 (January 26, 2009)

  • The Sequences They Are A-Changin'

    In March 2008, scientists announced the results of genetic testing on tuatara specimens. They determined that the species evolves its DNA at a rate of 1.56 changes per nucleotide every million years. This is the fastest observed rate among any currently-known species.Discovery News: Sluggish Reptile Breaks Speedy Evolution Record (March 24, 2008)

  • Endangered Species

    Tuatara populations are threatened by habitat reduction and by non-indigenous rodent, dog and cat species that eat the tuatara eggs.San Diego Zoo: Animal Bytes: Tuatara Climate change is also a concern for the future of the species, since the sex of the offspring is determined by the temperature in which they are incubated. An increase of one degree Celsius results in a birth population that is entirely female.BBC News: New Zealand reptile in climate peril (March 27, 2002)

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