Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Either of two nocturnal lizardlike reptiles (Sphenodon punctatus or S. guntheri) that are found only on certain islands off New Zealand and are the only extant members of the Rhynchocephalia, an order that flourished during the Mesozoic Era. Also called sphenodon.
Wiktionary
- n. Either of two reptiles, Sphenodon punctatus or Sphenodon guntheri, native to New Zealand, that resemble lizards.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. (Zoöl.) A large iguanalike reptile (Sphenodon punctatum) formerly common in New Zealand, but by 1900 confined to certain islets near the coast. It reaches a length of two and a half feet, is dark olive-green with small white or yellowish specks on the sides, and has yellow spines along the back, except on the neck. It is the only surviving member of the order Rhyncocephala. Also called
tuatera andhatteria .
WordNet 3.0
- n. only extant member of the order Rhynchocephalia of large spiny lizard-like diapsid reptiles of coastal islands off New Zealand
Etymologies
- From Maori tuatara. (Wiktionary)
- Maori tuatara : tua, back + tara, spine. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“One endangered reptile in an order of its own, called a tuatara, has a light receptive organ on its head; almost like a third eye.”
“In your mind, you're walking past the entrance to the Matterhorn, past the statue by the bucket fountain which nobody can ever agree on, as to if it's a frog or a tuatara, which is quite bizarre, you realise now, considering how utterly different they are.”
“Henry the tuatara is a dad at 111 - Australasia, World - The Independent”
“Despite this, scientists have been surprised to find that the tuatara is the "fastest evolving" creature on the genetic level.”
“Zealand -- the "tuatara" or Sphenodon -- entered its area at a still earlier stage of surface change.”
“The word "tuatara" is derived from a Maori word meaning "spiny back.”
“dinosaur forests", unusual birds and living fossils such as tuatara, giant kauri snails and mute frogs.”
“The tuatara, a nocturnal lizardlike reptile from New Zealand, shares a nest with the diurnal petrel, a sea bird.”
The Washington Post: For young readers: ÂHow to Clean a Hippopotamus'
“The petrel builds the nest, which the tuatara defends and keeps pest-free.”
The Washington Post: For young readers: ÂHow to Clean a Hippopotamus'
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘tuatara’.
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A-R-A Words
It's an odd-looking pattern in English. Please add words if it makes you happy. :) K-POW! Wow @gulyasrobi!
scarab, Arawak, Sahara, Arab, pharaoh, caravan, carat, parachute, arachnid, Saran Wrap, Sarah, tarantella and 492 more...
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Maori words playable in scrabble
Maori, weve had a influx since
2007ahuru+, ahuruhuru+, aka+, akatea+, akeake+, akiraho+, amokura+, araara+, ariki+, aroha+, aruhe+, ataata+ and 297 more...
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big lizards
caltetepon, heloderma, Gila monster, varanian, monitor lizard, Komodo dragon, dragon lizard, alligator, crocodile, caiman, iguana, mexican beaded li... and 22 more...
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As many reasons as we can think of to...
in the words of blues clues...
WE GOTTA THINK, THINK, THINK....maori, aboriginie, robbie deans!, anzac's, kiwi, dingo, kangaroo, we are awesome, tuatara, sky tower, sydney opera house, all blacks and 11 more...
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Stately Animals
Animals and birds of nations and states. Also see Stately Plants
lion, eagle, fennec fox, dragon, blue whale, magnificent friga..., cougar, kangaroo, emu, black eagle, orca whale, flamingo and 233 more...
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Critters
cockle, cicada, appaloosa, brachiopod, bivalve, aye-aye, cygnet, alewife, chamois, ermine, drake, dugong and 381 more...
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tuatara's Words
wonky, purple prose, arabesque, kismet, tuatara, flotilla, coprolite, succor, thanatopsis, wedgie, hairball, brae and 1 more...
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Lizards
skink, anole, iguana, basilisk, gecko, agama, sungazer, monitor, chuckwalla, zonure, chameleon, swift and 35 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for tuatara.
tuatara a primitive New Zealand "lizard" that is not truly a lizard but has evolutionary characteristics of reptiles and and birds; its Maori name means "peaks on the back," and it looks a bit like a brown-green iguana; endangered Jun 27, 2007