Tuatara

Sphenodon punctatus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sphenodon guntheri

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The tuatara is a reptile, the only surviving member of Rhynchocephalia, or Sphenodontia/Sphenodontida (for more on this, see classification). Tuatara are endemic to New Zealand, and now live only on a small number of offshore islands. It has been classified as an endangered species since 1895. Tuatara, like many native

Related Topics:
Reptile - Endemic - New Zealand - Endangered species - 1895

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

New Zealand animals, are threatened by habitat loss, harvesting, and introduced species such as mustelids and rats.

Related Topics:
Mustelid - Rat

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~