- The literal translation of Tuatara is "ridged or spiny back"
- It is the only survivor of a large group of reptiles and hasn't changed its form in over 225 million years.
- All its relatives died over 60 million years ago. It is called the only living fossil.
- They have a gland beneath the skin on the head known as a third eye.
- Tuatara do not have visible ear openings.
- The colour of tuatara ranges from olive green to brown to orange-red, and they can change colour over their lifetime.
- They shed their skin like a snake once a year.
- They are able to hold their breath for nearly an hour.
- They can re-grow their tails.
- The male tuatara grows to an average length of 60cm, weighs around 1 - 1.5kg and has an obvious crest of spines along its back. The female grows to an average length of 50cm and weighs about 550grams.
- A tuatara reaches sexual maturity between 15 and 20 years.
- Tuatara females only mate once every two to five years.
- About 8-9 months after mating the female will lay and bury 6-10 eggs in a sunny nesting site. In 11-16 months the baby tuatara will hatch.
- Tuatara use their 'egg tooth', a spike on the end of their snout, to break out of their egg. The 'egg tooth' will fall off during the first three weeks of life.
- Tuatara grow very slowly and keep growing until they are approximately 30 years old.
- A tuatara's average life span is about 60 years but they can live to be over 100 years old.
- Tuatara are cold blooded, which means their temperatures change with the air temperature.
- Tuatara are nocturnal an dprefer cool weather, however they will often bask int he sun to warm their bodies - but they are careful not to over-heat.
- They will share burrows with birds, but a male might bite off a baby bird's head if it is hungry - which doesn't make it a very good house guest!
- Young tuatara hunt for food during the day to avoid being eaten by adult tuatara at night!
- On warm nights they come out to hunt for food - mainly insects, lizards and seabird eggs and chicks.
Kia Ora - Welcome to Koata New Zealand
From the time of Ngati Koata’s arrival in Te Tau Ihu and their establishment there through the tuku of Tutepourangi of the Kurahaupo tribes and of Te Putu and other Ngati Koata chiefs early in the century before last.
