Tuatara-My trip to New Zealand

[pokesnorlax1]

When I was in 1rst grade we had to do a "report" on an animal. I chose the tuatara (This is the same kid that when we had to choose a country to draw a flag of chose Seychelles)

[thecowsreview]

they've been around since the late jurrasic/ early cretacious... i think the hibernation occurs because it first evolved when Australia was located closer to the south pole, and so they would have super long winters in which they would have to hibernate.

[prettystella11]

in the reader's digest the scientists said tuatara's are very rare and they're dinosaur-era's

[Teeklip]

I'd love one as a pet ^.^, but I know it'll never happen, unless they breed like crazy xD

[Aratinga88]

truly amazing animals!

[dalektaliban]

is their third eye deformed like an appendix or is it fully functional?

[quickdudley]

It's like an appendix. But they do actually need it because it's where they make vitamin D.

[PhazonOmegaMetroid]

Some experts believe that the Tuatara may live up to 200 years. They can control their eyes separately because of a duplex retina system. Truly a very unique reptile.

[jrafsta]

yeh their quite amazing

[ShandySpoon]

Oh what a shame I was finding the girl explaining about the tuatara really interesting...... what fascinating creatures :-)

[jrafsta]

wat do u mean what a shame then?

[ShandySpoon]

I think she got cut off didn't she?

[snapkat]

@jrafsta was interesting what she was saying. And her english skills very good.

[colonforsecs]

@jrafsta Meaning you stopped her talk about the animal to show pictures of it.

[Spideyfan117]

I find their 3rd eye amazing!

[aaahshs]

Wow, i would do almost anything to see one in real life. I know they aren't lizards, but do they feel like them?

[jrafsta]

they just feel like dinosaurs not that i know wat feels like lol

[hollywoodtomato]

@haoluteh: Tuataras aren't even squamates. All the lizards belong in Squamata. Tuataras are sphenodonts. Their skulls and pelvises are different from lizards. They are basically living fossils. REALLY fascinating animals.

Thank you for sharing this vid. I've seen a tuatara in person, but I didn't get to hold it.

[Spideyfan117]

yep. I actually just studied them today. It's amazing, they've remained relatively unchanged for YEARS.

[TheEliteWolf]

They're not living fossils as many people say. Recent taxonomic and molecular work has shown they actually have significantly changed since the mesozoic era.

[eyhexs]

tuataras are now officially cute

[jrafsta]

haha yeh

[SanBarzesco]

nEW zEALAND iS HOT

[haoluteh]

it still have a shape or a crocodile ^^

[BlueTongueDan]

Tuatara.

Incredible!

[haoluteh]

woo.. iguana..? will it bite?

[jrafsta]

iguana????? theres no iguanas in this vid its a tuatara and no it wont bute

[diamondbackpython]

hey I live in new zealand you saw that tuatara at southern incounter didn't you we have really shit reptile laws here so annoying

[jrafsta]

hey i saw it at a kiwi animal place in queenstown

[Ih8U2luvme]

theyre so CUTE i want one esp the sad ones in our zoo . damn kids sacring the babies . oh i r8 this 5

[jrafsta]

yeh same but u cant get them as pets because they are quite rare and there are not many left. they also have very specific needs and temperatures

[Booliocious]

they say theyv found them alive, and have survived millions of years, so that should tell us that theres more survivors and would explain there are others under our waters.

[jrafsta]

well yes there are still wild ones and i am filming an alive one so their definately not extinct

[PBShootout]

we have only explored 17% of the ocean, im sure there is something under there. Maybe even a loch ness type monster, im sure theres a family somewhere.

[jrafsta]

yeh but im sure that there would not be land animals like tuataras in the ocean

[awtystanislas]

ok... just another iguana looking reptile <.<

they look nicer tho

[pcatehcari]

¿Oigan que paso con el tercer ojo que dicen que tienen estos animales enmedio de la frente?

[eyhexs]

solo es visible en los recién nacidos, en los adultos está oculto bajo piel y escamas; muchas especies tienen este "ojo parietal", que sierviría para detectar ciclo día/noche, sintetizar más vitamina d, etc etc

[jrafsta]

lol thanks for the comment but i have no idea wat your saying and am not sure wat language that is to translate it

[eyhexs]

actually i was answering a question by

pcatehcari, in spanish :_) but thats ok; he asked about the parietal eye (third eye) in those animals

[DoowopJohnnyBoy]

Two Different Species of Tautara and there Scientific name is 'Sphenodon' it even sounds Like a Dinosaur i dont Know how Long they grow to though. Some one Let us Know Please.

[jrafsta]

Adult tuatara are about 50-80cm long and weigh between 400 -500g and its scientific name is acually sphenedontia just to let you know

[ducati298]

their so cute. i wont one

[jrafsta]

i know how coll are they

[VincenzoVIII]

Beautiful reptile.

[drinkcokeitsgood]

I've heard that Tuataras have a "third eye".

Where the fuck is that?

[jrafsta]

hey yeh they do. wen they are born their third eye is on top of their head which is just visible but as they get older the third eye covers over with skin. im pretty sure the third eye isnt a proper eye it just sences shadow movement to alert them if anything is coming from above them

[ducati298]

did you get 2 hold one.

[marine5958]

They should find out why tuataras live so long.

[messiah1the1holy]

Whoa a Tuatara! They can live over 100 years in age. I want one!!

[jrafsta]

yeh i no cool arnt they. i reckon they look like minature crocs

[lliizzaarrddss]

yo that lizard at the start was awsome!! love how its nice and slow!

also beautifull view from the mountans! hope u had fun !!

[jrafsta]

yeh i no kool isnt it

thanks

[lhhooligan24cash]

thats so cool man and hey im getin the whites tree frog in the next few days so check out the vids that im guna put up i will tell you when i get him or her so seya

[jrafsta]

thanks and good luck with the whites

[ErikPaterson]

that is VERY COOL

some ace species there that i would just love to see!

excuse my language but you are oen lucky bastard haha

[jrafsta]

lol i no they r awesome reptiles especially the tuatara and the auckland green gecko

[lizardexpert1]

cool!

[jrafsta]

yeh i no they r awesome..i want 1 but they r endangered. i like there feet and there tail