The ancient survivors that outlived the dinosaurs of the Jurassic age

Nature · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While most reptiles evolved into the lizards and snakes we see today, the tuatara remained a living link to a much older era. These New Zealand endemics carry a biological relic on their heads and a lineage that has endured for hundreds of millions of years.

The tuatara, or Sphenodon punctatus, is the sole surviving genus of the ancient order Rhynchocephalia. While often called living fossils, they are actually the last remnants of a lineage that first appeared in the fossil record during the Middle Triassic Period. This group diverged from the ancestors of modern lizards and snakes approximately 250 million years ago.

Their biology contains remarkable evolutionary features, such as a third, or parietal, eye located on the top of the head. Although this eye possesses a rudimentary lens, it does not function as an organ of vision. Instead, scientists believe it assists in endocrine regulation by registering the dark-light cycle. This unique anatomy is paired with a lifestyle that is largely, though not exclusively, nocturnal.

In the wild, these reptiles are endemic to New Zealand, specifically inhabiting the North Island, roughly 30 islets off the northeast coast, and several islets in the Cook Strait. They often utilize the burrow systems of the fairy prion (Pachyptila turtur) for protection. These burrows provide a rich ecosystem where tuatara can prey on the arthropods and smaller lizards that thrive on bird excreta, or even the seabirds' eggs and chicks.

The history of the genus is marked by significant shifts. Although South Island specimens dated between 16 and 19 million years ago represent the earliest similar remains, most identified fossils within this genus are under 10,000 years old. Today, they represent a vital connection to a world that flourished 200 million years ago.

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