From: itannman@boris.ucdavis.edu (Ann Mansker)
Subject: Critter of the Week: Sphenodon puntatus
Date: 23 Jul 1998 00:00:00 GMT
Newsgroups: ucd.life

Tuataras look like lizards but are actually the last remaining
representative of an ancient reptile family called the Rhynchocephalia,
meaning beak-headed.  The Rhychocephalians predate dinosaurs, arising
about 200 million years ago.  Juvenile tuataras have a structurally
complete third ("parietal") eye on top of their heads.  The eye is
light-sensitive, but covered by white scales that darken and become more
opaque as the animal matures.  

Tuataras are long-lived, slow to mature and slow to reproduce.  Sexual
maturity is achieved at 18 to 20 years; females breed every three or four
years.  Individuals may live over 100 years.

Only two (possibly 3) species of tuatara exist, confined to a group of
small islands off the coast of New Zealand.  

Tuataras are a major predator of the weta.

http://www.bigjude.com/Tuatara.html has more information and several
pictures.  There is a rather murky QuickTime clip and a sound file at
http://arkive.uwe.ac.uk/species/Tuatara/TuataraV.html .