Tuataras: Order Sphenodonta: 2 species

• Includes: only two species of Tuatara

• Number of Species: 2

• Range: found on certain islands off the coast of New Zealand

• Habitat: Terrestrial

• Characteristics

  • Stout-bodied lizard like reptiles with large head and thick tails

  • Tuataras lack a tympanum.

  • They often reach lengths of 66 cm (26 inches) or less.

• Behaviors

  • Adult tuataras forage mostly at night when temperatures usually range between 53.6 to 60.8 degrees F.  

  • They bask at burrow entrances during warm summer months.

  • Tuataras eat insects, skinks, geckos, and occasionally seabirds.

  • They live in burrows often shared with sea birds called petrels.

• Senses

  • They have a well-developed parietal eye on top of their heads which has a retina, lens, and nervous connections to brain.

• Reproduction

  • Sexual maturity usually reached by tuataras at close to 20 years of age.

  • Females produce clutches on average every 4 years.

  • Development of their young can take 11 to 16 months at temps from 64 to 72 degrees F (lowest temperatures for known living reptiles).

• Threats

  • Introduced rats to islands prey on tuatara eggs and juveniles.  

• Fun facts:

  • They are very slow growing.

  • The longest lived tuatara was 77 years when it passed away.

• Information/ Care Sheets