Tuatara Facts For Kids. Fun Information About Tuataras

Tuataras are rare reptiles found only in New Zealand and are the last survivors of an ancient group. These unique animals look like lizards but are actually not lizards at all - they belong to their own special order. Tuataras are designed with a spiny crest along their back and have a third eye on top of their head that can sense light!

There are 2 species of tuataras and they are living fossils that have changed very little in over 200 million years. These cold-weather reptiles live in burrows and are most active at night when temperatures drop. Tuataras grow very slowly, can live over 100 years, and eat insects, worms, and small animals they catch with their strong jaws.