tuatara

American  

[too-uh-tahr-uh] / ˌtu əˈtɑr ə /

Also tuatera

noun

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

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tuatara British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of tuatara

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

Example Sentences

Today, lizards and their close relatives, including snakes and the distinctive tuatara from New Zealand, form the most diverse group of land vertebrates.

From Science Daily

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.

From Salon

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

From Scientific American

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

From BBC

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

From New York Times