Tuatara and the sun

Tuatara, are endemic, endangered New Zealand reptiles. Reptiles have a backbone (spine), scales, and lay eggs. Although tuatara belong to the reptile group, they are not lizards. The closest relatives of tuatara were a group of extinct reptiles called Rhynchocephalian. They have some unique ancient features such as two rows of teeth in the top of the skull, a spiny egg-tooth and a third eye.

Within this resource, students will identify and explain why the sun is important for tuatara and recognise the difference between cold-blooded (ectotherms) and warm-blooded (endotherms) animals.