The tuatara is a strange reptile. Though it looks like a lizard, it is not a lizard. It is not a snake or turtle or crocodilian either. The tuatara has remained unchanged over millions of years. The tuataras in the age of the dinosaurs were same as the tuataras of today. The tuatara is slow by nature. They grow slowly. They live in burrows which are often occupied by seabirds as well. Male tuataras grow to a length of 60 centimetres, but females are slightly shorter. They become adult at about twenty years of age, but continue to grow up to sixty years of age. The female tuatara lays 10 – 15 eggs in a shallow burrow. The eggs take 15 months to hatch; the longest for any reptile. New born babies can look after themselves. Tuataras can live for over 120 years.
