By Ed Chatterton via SWNS
A zoo has welcomed an ancient ‘three-eyed’ reptile predating dinosaurs after becoming the first to breed them outside their native home – in 70 MILLION years.
The group of six tuataras has moved into their new home at Chester Zoo as part of a special breeding program after becoming highly threatened in the wild.
Dating back nearly 200 million years, they are among the world’s oldest surviving species and are considered one of nature’s “greatest marvels”.
Tuataras lived on the planet before the dinosaurs and today around 50,000 are estimated to remain in the wild.
Fossils suggest they died out everywhere around 70 million years ago – except for a few that survived on a number of small, isolated offshore islands in New Zealand.
Conservationists say the introduction of rats and other invasive species may have played a part in their demise, as well as a changing climate.
Very few people are given permission to visit the protected isles where they live, which has helped safeguard the prehistoric species from complete extinction.
Chester Zoo became the first to ever breed tuatara outside of their native New Zealand in 2016 – with the impressive feat taking several decades to achieve.
They are now currently the only zoo in the UK and one of just two in Europe where the species is found.
The newly-created habitat is said to closely recreate the natural conditions and seasonal environments of their native habitat.
Experts say one of the most curious body parts of the tuatara is a ‘third eye’ on the top of its head.
The ‘eye’ has a retina, cornea, lens and nerve endings, but it is not used for sight.
Instead, it helps to sense the intensity of sunlight and thermoregulate body temperature, circadian rhythm, navigation and hormone regulation.
Karen Lambert, lead keeper of the zoo’s ectotherms department, said: “Tuataras are one the nature’s greatest marvels and provide an incredible window into our planet’s prehistoric past.
“Having somehow survived for around 200 million years, these unique animals are crucial to our understanding of reptilian evolution.
“It is one of the oldest surviving species on Earth and has a long history on the planet.
“Part of their history is here at Chester Zoo when we became the first to ever breed them outside of New Zealand in 2016.
“They are notoriously difficult to care for but, after nearly four decades, we finally perfected our efforts and have subsequently found success – with a number of successful hatchlings following in 2017 and 2020.
“This really showcases the extraordinary lengths we will go to safeguard a species.
“These reptiles were here well before humans and it’s a real shame that they’re now so highly threatened after surviving all of this time.
“But the good news is that all the information we gathered from our breeding successes have been shared with the international conservation community so that we can collectively work to protect their future on the planet.
“By creating a new habitat that closely mimics the weather patterns of their island home in New Zealand, we hope to give them the best chance to thrive, while also shining a huge spotlight on the fragility of island species that are threatened by invasive species and habitat destruction – showing why it’s so important to preserve our planet’s rich biodiversity.”
Tuatara fact file:
Scientific name: Sphenodon punctatus.Tuatara are the last surviving members of the order Rhynchocephalia, or beak-heads. These ancient reptiles once flourished as long ago as 230 million years, before dinosaurs.About 70 million years ago the species became extinct everywhere except New Zealand.One of the most curious body parts of the tuatara is a ‘third eye’ on the top of its head. The ‘eye’ has a retina, cornea, lens and nerve endings, yet it is not used for seeing.Tuatara do not reach sexual maturity until they are around 20 years old.Tuatara are the only reptile that does not have a penis, instead, they mate like birds.In courtship, males circle the females before their crest becomes erect, leading to the performance of a Stolzer gang – a stiff-legged walk.Scientists estimate that they can live for up to 120 years.The species were first protected by the New Zealand government in 1895.
