tuatara

Also tu·a·te·ra
Also

[too-uh-tahr-uh]

noun

1. a large, primarily nocturnal, lizardlike reptile, Sphenodon punctatum, of islands near the coast of New Zealand: the only surviving rhynchocephalian.

tuatara

/ ˌtuːəˈtɑːrə /

noun

1. a greenish-grey lizard-like rhynchocephalian reptile, Sphenodon punctatus , occurring only on certain small islands near New Zealand: it is the sole surviving member of a group common in Mesozoic times

Word History and Origins

Origin of tuatara¹

1810–20; < Maori, equivalent to tua dorsal + tara spine

Word History and Origins

Origin of tuatara¹

C19: from Māori, from tua back + tara spine

Example Sentences

Along with the mata mata turtle and reptile known as the tuatara, among the other animals studied were caecilians, a slithery type of amphibian with an outward appearance akin to snakes.

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She recalls hearing about tuatara vocalizations from her mother and others who were familiar with those animals.

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Mr Jorgewich-Cohen also recorded tuataras making sounds to guard their territory.

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The aging rates for lizards and snakes were scattered but were remarkably low in certain crocodiles, salamanders and the enigmatic tuatara.

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The study examined 10,196 reptile species including turtles, crocodilians, lizards, snakes and the tuatara, the only surviving member of a lineage dating back more than 200 million years.

Read more on Reuters