Story: Tuatara

Tuatara distribution

Tuatara distribution

Wild tuatara are found on nearshore islands, occurring on the mainland only where there are captive rearing facilities or predator-free refuges. Fossil records show that tuatara were once widespread in the North and South islands. Scientists cannot tell whether the fossil bones are from the two surviving tuatara species, or from undescribed species, now extinct.

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How to cite this page:

Charles Daugherty and Susan Keall, 'Tuatara - Tuatara islands', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/map/14986/tuatara-distribution (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Charles Daugherty and Susan Keall, published 24 Sep 2007