What On Earth Is A Tuatara? | Modern Dinosaurs

Today, Department of Conservation rangers Lee and Joyce are in search of a rare animal found only on an island in New Zealand. Follow them on their quest to find and breed two Tuataras, an ancient reptile that predates the dinosaurs.

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[SavannahBurris]

it's incredible, that, even though these specific creatures aren't lizards, you can see where a lot of lizards get their traits. for example, a lot of modern reptiles also have a third eye, of sorts, however, it doesn't have an actual retina. just light and dark sensors. it's absolutely fascinating that these guys have whole retinas under their scales.

[elgieedeee]

That 3rd eye might detect shadows movement above their heads

[ExploratoryVessel]

These guys are so adorable. Thank you guys for protecting them!

[hannahsammeli]

To be able to help conserve a species so amazing would be incredible!!! I’m happy we didn’t let these guys go instinct. We need more efforts like this.

[phillipayoung]

Keep them going. Theyre precious to the environment

[YochevedDesigns]

I am absolutely fascinated by Tuatara. I'd love to be involved in a breeding program. The world needs more of these little weirdos!

[RohitPant]

What an incredible being! I just read about it in my Zoology syllabus & i am shook at their history!

[conorsirishnature]

The turatara: "im a living dinosaur"
Literally every other bird: "Am i a joke to you?"

[georgehunter]

Tuatara has a very short snout with large eyes. It looks distinctly different from ordinary lizards. They look like little aliens in the process of evolving.

[MarksShrimpTanks]

What a cool looking animal with a third eye !!! wha!!!!

[xenoidaltu]

16 months to lay eggs and another 8 to hatch, that makes it 2 years!

And then on top of that it takes the female tuatara two years to produce more eggs.

If it weren't because of the fact that they can survive 12 months without eating then they wouldn't make it to our present time.

[krowman]

I gotta a lot of love for all the conservation people and organizations. Just imagine if all the worlds Corporations had an incentive to help with things like this instead of destroying it?

[TheToneBender]

The third eye is to see into your soul.

[amandaroman]

The third eye was explained :)
So sorry to spam the comments ! Excitedly like a 38 year old child I ran out and told my husband about this cool lil guy and he’s like um yeah? I was like why you not excited! He says to me.... I just read an article about them 2 days ago. Totally ironic as heck right! GUESS WHAT
Article said the eye is used for sensoring changes in light and shadows! So my hunch and another in comments was actually correct ! It even says our sensory part in our own brains is very similar how we can tell if it’s night or day very similar to their third eye. I’m just crazy excited to find this animal for the first time! I really need a life and maybe to find somewhere else to live. This rock is kinda crappy lol

[CVL]

I came for the cool looking lizard-like animal and got the crap scared out of me by the giant ass bugs. Thank goodness for the tuatara.

[sleeepybae]

people like these people are so inspiring. truly making a difference in our world and saving species is amazing. good work!!! i'm so happy we have people working to save animals :D

[mstr]

Random Person: "So they're lizards?"


Me, an intellectual: "Well, yes! But actually, no!"

[mstalcup]

Concerning the comment at 3:38 – Only certain groups of lizards can drop their tails when attacked. Monitor lizards and several other groups can't.

[fitt]

Thank you guys for taking care of them

[lockin]

Over 200 million years surviving to get wiped out by humans. Good job humans