The Tuatara is New Zealand's own living dinosaur. They can live for more than 100 years as they grow slowly. Tuatara used to live all over New Zealand but the introduction of Rats, Ferrets, Stoats and Weasels means that wild Tuatara are only found on predator proof islands. The name 'Tuatara' means 'peaks on the back' in Māori, referring to the feathers (spines) on the Tuatara's back.
Description
Male Tuatara can weigh more than 1kg and females up to 500g. Tuatara usually grow up to half a metre and are greenish brown to grey in colour. They have a 'third eye' on top of their head that senses motion from above. Like most lizards, Tuatara can lose their tail but sometimes it will grow back a different colour.
Habitat
Tuatara live in shrub and bush on predator proof islands offshore from New Zealand and predator proof sanctuaries on the mainland.
Diet
Tuatara primarily eat invertebrates such as weta and worms but will occasionally eat lizards, bird eggs and chicks and even their own young. Tuatara eat mostly at night and sleep during the day in burrows, sometimes shared with Petrels.
Threats
The population of Tuatara is declining, especially in areas that are not predator proof, therefore the conservation status is listed as 'At Risk'. A fully grown Tuatara is not likely to be attacked by predators because of its size but the eggs and young may be eaten but cats, dogs, ferrets, stoats, rats and possums.
Other risks to Tuatara are habitat destruction and the fact that they have a low genetic diversity, meaning they are not able to cope with environmental changes. Like other lizards, the global temperature determines the gender of the young so if the temperature rises then there could be too many of one gender and therefore no reproduction.
Before 1895, when Tuatara became legally protected, hundreds of Tuatara were poached and sent overseas for museums and private collections. Poaching is still a problem but is reducing because of the Tuatara's remote locations and the fact they are legally protected.
Poisons, such as rat poisons are also bad for Tuatara as they will be carried in their food and when the Tuatara eat the food they get it in their bloodstream and die. Brodifacoum is the active ingredient in these poisons.
So what can we do to help these lizards?
We can help by following the 'no-landing' rule on most of the islands which Tuatara inhabit and, on the few that you are allowed to land on, make sure there are no pests in your luggage or gear. Also don't poach the tuatara and if you see a sick, injured or dead Tuatara contact the Department of Conservation. Another thing, if you have a problem with rats or any other pests, don't use poison - buy or hire a trap. It won't just be the Tuatara you save - any other animals that eat bugs and cockroaches will also be in danger so don't lay poison.
References
The Department of Conservation: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs/tuatara/
Hamilton Zoo: https://hamiltonzoo.co.nz/our-animals/reptiles/tuatara/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatara
Auckland Zoo: https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/animals/tuatara
Tuatara: New Zealand's living dinosaur: https://media.newzealand.com/en/story-ideas/tuatara-new-zealands-living-dinosaur/
Animal Diversity Web: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sphenodon_punctatus/classification/#Sphenodon_punctatus
Rat poisoning in Tuatara: https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/113989565/picture-of-poisoned-blue-cockroach-watershed-moment-in-tuatara-deaths
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/113959278/natureland-tuatara-died-from-secondary-rat-poisoning
Tuatara live in shrub and bush on predator proof islands offshore from New Zealand and predator proof sanctuaries on the mainland.
Diet
Tuatara primarily eat invertebrates such as weta and worms but will occasionally eat lizards, bird eggs and chicks and even their own young. Tuatara eat mostly at night and sleep during the day in burrows, sometimes shared with Petrels.
Threats
The population of Tuatara is declining, especially in areas that are not predator proof, therefore the conservation status is listed as 'At Risk'. A fully grown Tuatara is not likely to be attacked by predators because of its size but the eggs and young may be eaten but cats, dogs, ferrets, stoats, rats and possums.
Other risks to Tuatara are habitat destruction and the fact that they have a low genetic diversity, meaning they are not able to cope with environmental changes. Like other lizards, the global temperature determines the gender of the young so if the temperature rises then there could be too many of one gender and therefore no reproduction.
Before 1895, when Tuatara became legally protected, hundreds of Tuatara were poached and sent overseas for museums and private collections. Poaching is still a problem but is reducing because of the Tuatara's remote locations and the fact they are legally protected.
Poisons, such as rat poisons are also bad for Tuatara as they will be carried in their food and when the Tuatara eat the food they get it in their bloodstream and die. Brodifacoum is the active ingredient in these poisons.
So what can we do to help these lizards?
We can help by following the 'no-landing' rule on most of the islands which Tuatara inhabit and, on the few that you are allowed to land on, make sure there are no pests in your luggage or gear. Also don't poach the tuatara and if you see a sick, injured or dead Tuatara contact the Department of Conservation. Another thing, if you have a problem with rats or any other pests, don't use poison - buy or hire a trap. It won't just be the Tuatara you save - any other animals that eat bugs and cockroaches will also be in danger so don't lay poison.
References
The Department of Conservation: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs/tuatara/
Hamilton Zoo: https://hamiltonzoo.co.nz/our-animals/reptiles/tuatara/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatara
Auckland Zoo: https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/animals/tuatara
Tuatara: New Zealand's living dinosaur: https://media.newzealand.com/en/story-ideas/tuatara-new-zealands-living-dinosaur/
Animal Diversity Web: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sphenodon_punctatus/classification/#Sphenodon_punctatus
Rat poisoning in Tuatara: https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/113989565/picture-of-poisoned-blue-cockroach-watershed-moment-in-tuatara-deaths
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/113959278/natureland-tuatara-died-from-secondary-rat-poisoning