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Animal Themes
Endangered Animals Theme Unit
Reptiles

Tuataras

Tuataras
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 4 to 8
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   10.61

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    extinction, groundbreaking, incubation, receptor, retina, tuataras, uncertain, additional, mating, despite, occasionally, specimen, scaly, possibly, entire, species
     content words:    Albert Gunther, British Museum, New Zealand, South Islands

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Other Languages
     Spanish: Los Tuátaras

Tuataras   
1     Tuataras were once classified under the reptile order of Squamata that includes both lizards and snakes. At the time, the taxonomy made sense, because tuataras and lizards appeared identical. Then, Dr. Albert Gunther, a scientist at the British Museum in London, overthrew the theory with his groundbreaking discovery in 1867. He noticed that the tuatara specimen resembled a separate, long-thought-extinct reptile order called the Rhynchocephalia (or the Sphenodontida.) Thus, he proposed to re-categorize tuataras, making them sole surviving descendents of the Rhynchocephalia order who possibly debuted on Earth more than 200 million years ago!
 
2     Living on 30 or so small islands off the coast of New Zealand, tuataras wear loose, scaly outfits in grayish brown. They have pointed crests running down their necks, backs, and tails. This specific feature, more prominent on males than on females, is actually how tuataras got their name. You see, in Maori, the word "tuatara" means "spiny back."
 
3     Like several other lizard species, tuataras have the so-called "third eye" on the top of their heads. This additional eye, equipped with a rudimentary lens and retina, is evident when tuataras are young. As they grow, however, they cover it with a layer of skin and make it less obvious. While it's unclear whether tuataras' "third eye" carries any specific function, it's probable that they use it as a light receptor. Despite the similarities in appearances, tuataras differ from lizards in several ways. For example, tuataras do not have eardrums and middle ears, whereas lizards do.

Paragraphs 4 to 7:
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