Tuataras Fun Facts for Kids

Tuataras are reptiles, but they aren’t lizards. Their closest relatives died out during the time of the dinosaurs 60 million years ago. Tuataras are sometimes called living fossils because their family is so old.

Tuatara Reptile Image - Science for Kids All About Tuataras — Tuataras are reptiles, but they aren’t lizards.

Tuataras, unlike lizards, like cool weather. They’re also nocturnal. They live in only one place on the planet – 30 small islands off the coast of New Zealand. Here, they are protected by the New Zealand government.

Buried Tuatara Eggs Image — All About Tuataras: It takes up to 9 months for a mother tuatara to lay her eggs. She places them in a burrow, where they incubate for another 13 months before they hatch.

Fun Facts about Tuataras for Kids

Tuataras live a long time. They don’t grow up until they’re 15 to 20 years old – sort of like people. They can live for up to 100 years.
Tuataras only have babies every 2 to 5 years. It takes up to 9 months for a mother tuatara to lay her eggs. She places them in a burrow, where they incubate for another 13 months before they hatch. During cold weather, the eggs stop growing until warm weather returns. Most lizard eggs hatch within a few weeks.
Tuataras eat mostly insects. Sometimes they eat birds, eggs or small lizards. Their teeth wear down as they get old. Old tuataras have to eat soft food, just like many old people.
Tuataras sometimes share a burrow with a sea bird. The bird goes out during the day and the tuatara goes out at night.
Baby tuataras are active during the day so the adults don’t eat them at night.

Tuatara Eating a Bird Image — Tuataras eat mostly insects. Sometimes they eat birds, eggs or small lizards.

Tuatara Vocabulary

Relative: member of the family
Fossil: remains of ancient animals and plants
Burrow: hole in the ground
Incubate: develop
Nocturnal: awake at night

Learn More All About Tuataras

Watch this fun documentary video to know more about the Tuataras:

A documentary video of facts about the tuataras.

Tuatara Q&A

Question: Are tuataras endangered?

Answer: Yes, tuataras now live on islands that are free of rats and other predators to help their numbers grow.

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Question: Are most new babies male or female?

Answer: Warm weather while the eggs are incubating makes male babies. Cooler weather makes girl babies. If the world keeps getting warmer, all the babies will be boys.

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