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Tuatara

Tuatara

Lifespan: 60 years

Top speed: 7 mph

Weight: 1-3 pounds

Diet: Insects, lizards, birds, eggs

Predators: Birds such as swamp harriers and New Zealand falcons, as well as introduced predators, including dogs, cats, rats, and ferrets

Range: Islands off the coast of New Zealand

Conservation Status: Least concern

Fun Fact: Tuataras have a "third eye" on top of their head called a parietal eye. It does not see like a regular eye, though; it is used do detect light and dark, helping regulate the tuatara's circadian rhythm.


Fun Fact: Tuataras diverged from other reptile orders about 240 million years ago, around the same time dinosaurs did.