Tuatara are reptiles. Reptiles are cold blooded animals with scaly skin. They lay eggs.
Tuatara have a third eye when they are born. It is on top of their brain, but you can
only see it on baby Tuatara because when it gets older scales grow over it.
Tuatara live only in New Zealand, on offshore islands. They are nocturnal and sleep in
burrows during the day, but sometimes go out in the day to lie in the sun.
Tuatara are carnivores (meat eaters). They like eating worms, insects, lizards, seabird
eggs and chicks, snails and spiders. They have big mouths and strong jaws.
Tuatara have been on this earth since dinosaur times. The Tuatara have olive skin
with yellow spots. There are only about 400 Brothers Tuatara left in NZ, on a tiny
island in Cook Straight.
Tuatara are special animals that have to live on protected islands in New Zealand.
They are unique reptiles that will hopefully be around forever.
