New Zealand's tuataras prove the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" like few other animals on the planet (coelacanth, I'm looking at you). While paleontologists have long differed over the ...

Groups such as tuataras, which are reptiles that live on New Zealand islands, have few species. Scientists have blamed time for this discrepancy.

Tuataras can take 10 to 20 years to reach sexual maturity. The gestation period for a Tuatara can take 2-5 years which make it hard for conservation projects to breed Tuataras.

Groups such as tuataras, which are reptiles that live on New Zealand islands, have few species. Scientists have blamed time for this discrepancy.

Tuataras have spiny crests along their backs made from soft, triangular folds of skin. These spines are more prominent in males, who can raise them during territorial or courtship displays. 3.

Tuataras look like big brown lizards, but differ by having distinctive skeletal, dental and skull features. Their blood cells are larger than any other living reptile’s.

Because of its long generation time, tuataras can take up to 50 years to begin reproducing, the reptile's ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment is limited, she says.

Tuataras, essentially unchanged since age of dinosaurs, have started laying eggs on North Island for first time in 200 years.

New Zealand's tuataras prove the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" like few other animals on the planet (coelacanth, I'm looking at you). While paleontologists have long differed over the ...

Because of its long generation time, tuataras can take up to 50 years to begin reproducing, the reptile's ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment is limited, she says.