tuatara

[ too-uh-tahr-uh ]

noun

1. a large, primarily nocturnal, lizardlike reptile, Sphenodon punctatum, of islands near the coast of New Zealand: the only surviving rhynchocephalian.

tuatara

/ ˌtuːəˈtɑːrə /

noun

1. a greenish-grey lizard-like rhynchocephalian reptile, Sphenodon punctatus , occurring only on certain small islands near New Zealand: it is the sole surviving member of a group common in Mesozoic times

Word History and Origins

Origin of tuatara¹

1810–20; < Maori, equivalent to tua dorsal + tara spine

Word History and Origins

Origin of tuatara¹

C19: from Māori, from tua back + tara spine

Example Sentences

Along with the mata mata turtle and reptile known as the tuatara, among the other animals studied were caecilians, a slithery type of amphibian with an outward appearance akin to snakes.

From Salon

She recalls hearing about tuatara vocalizations from her mother and others who were familiar with those animals.

From Scientific American

Mr Jorgewich-Cohen also recorded tuataras making sounds to guard their territory.

From BBC

The aging rates for lizards and snakes were scattered but were remarkably low in certain crocodiles, salamanders and the enigmatic tuatara.

From New York Times

The study examined 10,196 reptile species including turtles, crocodilians, lizards, snakes and the tuatara, the only surviving member of a lineage dating back more than 200 million years.

From Reuters