Tuatara

Reptile with a third eye

The Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) is the sole survivor of a group of reptiles that have existed for 200 million years. It is found only on some small islands of New Zealand and is endangered.

The Tuatara looks like a lizard, but it is not. Compared to other reptiles, it has a very strong skull, a primitive backbone and strangely-shaped ribs. It starts breeding only after it is 20 years old and the male does not have any sexual organs.

It feeds on almost anything it can find, including spiders, beetles, earthworms, birds eggs and chicks. The Tuatara remains in a burrow for most of the day.

The third eye
The Tuatara's most fascinating feature is its third or pineal ‘eye’. This occurs in many species of lizard too. It is visible in hatchlings, but is covered with scales after 4-6 months. This reason for this 3rd ‘eye’ is not known but it is thought to be useful in absorbing ultraviolet rays to manufacture vitamin D