• 2 weeks ago
Transcript
00:00This three-eyed reptile can live over 100 years.
00:09TUATARA SPECIES
00:10The tuatara's scientific name is Sphenodon punctatus.
00:13It is the only surviving species from a lineage that dates back 200 million years to the dinosaur
00:18era.
00:22TUATARA'S PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
00:23A tuatara can grow up to 20, 4 to 30, 1 inches long and weigh up to 1 kg 2.2 pounds.
00:31Its color can be greenish-brown.
00:35The only creature with a third eye, the tuatara has a third eye on top of its head called
00:41the parietal eye.
00:42It is used to absorb UV rays.
00:47STRONG TEETH FOR HUNTING
00:48Its tooth arrangement is unique.
00:51The upper jaw has two rows of teeth with a single row on the lower jaw.
00:58TUATARA LIFESPAN
00:59A tuatara can live for over 100 years, significantly longer than the average reptile lifespan of
01:0760 to 100 years.
01:11FEMALE TUATARA PREGNANCY
01:14Female tuataras lay eggs every 2 to 5 years, laying up to 19 eggs at a time.
01:22TUATARA'S REMAINING HABITAT
01:24Tuataras are now found only on a few islands in New Zealand, away from human settlements
01:29and predators like rats.
01:34TUATARA'S DIET
01:35This reptile preys on insects, beetles, other small reptiles and seabird eggs.
01:44TUATARA'S TEMPERATURE SENSITIVITY
01:45Tuataras are found in cooler climates and can tolerate temperatures up to 20, 8°C,
01:5280, 2°F.
01:57TUATARA AN ENDANGERED SPECIES
01:59The tuatara is an endangered species and conservation efforts are ongoing.
02:07TUATARA A REMNANT OF EARTH'S HISTORY
02:09The tuatara is considered a cultural treasure of New Zealand, having existed on Earth for
02:14millions of years.
02:18TUATARA'S RESEMBLANCE TO CHAMELEONS
02:20Tuatara resemble chameleons in body structure, but they are distinct species with notable
02:26differences.