tuatara

noun

tu·​a·​ta·​ra ˌtü-ə-ˈtär-ə 

plural tuatara or tuataras

: a large spiny quadrupedal reptile (Sphenodon punctatus) of islands off the coast of New Zealand that has a vestigial third eye in the middle of the forehead representing the pineal gland and that is the only surviving rhynchocephalian

Illustration of tuatara

Examples of tuatara in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tuataras, a New Zealand reptile, can live to be 100, as can a crocodile. — B. R. Cohen, Longreads, 13 Jan. 2026

Predators introduced by waves of human settlers have eliminated tuatara in much of their original habitat, which once spanned all of mainland New Zealand. — Elizabeth Preston, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025

The animal turned out to be a lepidosaur – a member of the reptile group that today includes lizards, snakes and New Zealand's native tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), and which has since diversified into more than 12,000 living species. — New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025

Lizards, snakes, and the tuatara (collectively known as lepidosaurs) boast over 12,000 species, outnumbering both birds and mammals. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Maori

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tuatara

• alara
• amara
• antara
• aymara
• bambara
• camara
• damara
• gandhara
• gemara
• gurdwara
• kumara
• negara

Kids Definition

tuatara

noun

tu·​a·​ta·​ra ˌtü-ə-ˈtär-ə 

: a large spiny reptile of the islands off the coast of New Zealand that looks like a lizard