Rhynchocephalia: Tuataras and their Extinct Relatives

Rhynchocephalia ("beak-heads") is an order of lizard-like reptiles that includes only one living species, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) of New Zealand, which is thought to have two subspecies (Sphenodon punctatus punctatus and Sphenodon punctatus guntheri) the latter was recognised as a separate species from 1989 to 2009.
Despite its current lack of diversity, the Rhynchocephalia at one time included a wide array of genera within multiple (now extinct) families, and represents a lineage stretching at least as far back as the Middle Triassic. Most rhynchocephalians belong to the group Sphenodontia ("wedge-teeth"), which are characterized by a hooked beak-like structure at the tip of the snout formed by enlarged premaxillary teeth.
Many of the niches occupied by lizards today were held by sphenodontians during the Triassic and Jurassic, although lizard diversity began to overtake sphenodontian diversity in the Cretaceous. While the modern tuatara is primarily carnivorous, there were also sphenodontians with omnivorous (Opisthias), herbivorous (Eilenodontinae), and durophagous (Oenosaurus) lifestyles. There were even several successful groups of aquatic sphenodontians, such as pleurosaurs and Ankylosphenodon.
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[@peteacher52]

And that very adaptation to cold weather was why zoos worldwide that were lucky enough to receive specimens were never able to get them to breed because they kept their tuatara in the warm reptile house, assuming them to be lizards ... that is, until the astute and observant Gerald Durrell successfully bred them at his iconic Jersey Zoo, the first outside of NZ to do so. He realised the mistake others were making and kept his tuatara in conditions matching the off-shore island from which his came and voila!! Eggs, then baby tuatara.

[@victorabaderamos6019]

And to think they once lived on mainland New Zealand up until relatively recent times...( not counting recent reintroduction)

[@dr.polaris6423]

Sad isn’t it.

[@christopherrodmell1694]

You can still find them in special inclosures at zoos

[@golddragonette7795]

@Ciaran Eldrett st Kilda is a bird reserve, there's been too many examples of apparently benign introductions that result in ecological disaster. It seems very high risk, though the tuatara is absolutely worth saving

[@nicholasmaude6906]

@@golddragonette7795 Tuataras don't eat birds.

[@bigclawmulti-media2099]

@@nicholasmaude6906 They absolutely eat birds when they can catch them. One's eating a bird in this video.

[@minecraftdinokaijumdk992]

I always love Tuataras for how unique they are. Thanks for the video. It was amazing. 😁 By the way, I believe there is a likely chance that Tuataras exist on Alter-Earth, but I am not so sure, hence why I am asking. Do they, and if so, how much more extended is their range (and the range of Rhyncocephalians in general) compared to our Earth?

[@dr.polaris6423]

As a matter of fact, Rhynchocephalia is more common and widespread on Alter Earth. By the Holocene they live in New Zealand, Australia and drier parts of South America. Most are carnivorous but a few forms are herbivores.

[@afkfromawake]

Is Alter Earth a website? I tried to find it with a quick google search, but I can't seem to find it. Could you put a link to it?

[@robwalsh9843]

A stocky iguana-impersonator with a jaw that isn't sure if it wants lizard teeth or a turtles beak Weird

[@dr.polaris6423]

That's a great description!

[@johannajeanorozco1302]

Wow what bad discreption

[@robwalsh9843]

@@johannajeanorozco1302 it's spelled "description", not "descreption"

[@thedarkmasterthedarkmaster]

Ah ok the audio is now perfect

[@spacecthulhuattackingmercu2894]

thing that evolved into godzilla confirmed

[@dantewhite9117]

More like the Rhedosaurus.

[@matthiasfloren2610]

I hope they will persist in the future. They are an excellent example to learn about evolution

[@silvertheelf]

No, everything is, but they are an example of what we are risking loosing.

[@matthiasfloren2610]

@@silvertheelf I know that one day they'll be gone but i mean in our lifetime

[@silvertheelf]

@@matthiasfloren2610 bacteria is actually better for evolution research, oh and what’s this? Scientists do this already.

[@silvertheelf]

@@grouchygoat this is interesting, thank you for the link

[@JustAnotherRandomGuy-_-]

I love the Pleurosauridae. They are like the little Mosasaurs.

[@agnelomascarenhas8990]

Trying to understand snake evolutionary tree led to squamata and rhyncocephala. Also to synapsid and diapsid split. Video was useful to understand features of basal reptile.

[@Svensk7119]

I realize you said living fossil isn't scientifically helpful, but I still think of these guys like that. I guess it appeals to the underdog lover in all of us, or maybe the traditionalist.. Other critters that seemingly have "stopped" evolving would be a neat comparison. Hoatzin, okapi, cassowary... Certainly the hoatzin, the last bird with wing claws should get a vid!

[@martinwhite8383]

I have been watching your channel from day one as a silent subscriber until now. I just wanted to praise you for your incredible depth in knowledge and insight. I love the visuals and music plus your superb commentary. I really look forwards to enjoying your next subject matter. Long may this continue, truly inspired and brilliant.

[@benw9949]

That third eye is such an odd trait. Are there any other vertebrates that do that? And three rather than four, it's so odd....

[@Evergreen_Wizard]

As a matter of fact, a lot of fish, amphibians and reptilians have a parietal eye. It was also quite pronounced in ancestors of mammals. And we, mammals, have it inside the brain. The only vertebrate group that lacks a parietal organ is Archosauria. Crocodiles and birds do not possess even a trace of the third eye.

[@DLC-music]

I love your videos! Definitely one of my favorite channels. Thank you so much and keep up the great content!🙏😃

[@swindle2345]

great work as always :)

[@nicholasmaude6906]

It's nice to see a video about one of our national emblems:). By the way what is Alter-Earth?

[@ShredGod7404]

Hey Dr Polaris, can u do a video on Dromaeosaurids, including troodontidae?

[@michaelmagnus3590]

Tuatara is so cute.

[@dr.polaris6423]

I think they are as well.

[@alexandracorrea803]

Love it.

[@dr.polaris6423]

Thanks!

[@alexandracorrea803]

np

[@kennyhagan5781]

There's something called the horned lizard (the horny toad) here in Texas. Tuataras kind of remind me of them.

[@Saucelight88]

They can live to be 100 years old😳 wow what an amazing animal!

[@Sonkhonkett]

"a cloacal kiss."

[@canis2020]

Obligatory comment for the KZbin Algorithm

[@markokrsmanovic2562]

Well that was a first time iv heard of something called cloaka kiss

[@samsalamander8147]

Is it legal to own and breed them? I want them to be around for an even longer time. Imagine if we brought them all over the world and they evolved to take over the world.

[@rosiehawtrey]

Only zoos carry them, and they're hard to look after since temperature over 20c can kill them, they are cannibalistic, highly territorial and have a very unusual diet - oh and they can live for 120+ years, don't breed until they are in their 20s. They have quite a strong bite with three sets of teeth.

[@samsalamander8147]

@@rosiehawtrey there teeth are amazing how they have two rows on the top and one on the bottom that fit together that’s so interesting. I also love the 3rd eye but I could never keep a reptile myself I’m not good at it. I had a Sudan plated lizard for about ten years but that was my only somewhat success. I went on vacation and my mother thought she was doing some great thing by letting my lizard hang out in the greenhouse but it was way to hot in there and he died. I could have killed her(my mom). She said “she looked like she loved it she was running around eating crickets so I left her”. I also had a iguana that escaped out of my screen door and ran into the grass and I never seen him again. He jumped right off the back deck. So no more lizards for me I’m better at dogs and cats lol.

[@patoass7426]

@@rosiehawtrey no they are resistant to the cold but don't like heat

[@themonsterbaby]

Amazing animal.

[@jordanmcclendon2783]

I think there are two species of Tuataras

[@ghostfire3342]

Wau Apaka reptilers indonesia ada yg punya ini

[@stefanostokatlidis4861]

Don’t Rhynchocephalians resemble iguanians for the most part? The modern tuatara is somewhat similar to a cold-adapted agamid. Tuatara cryptids are much more plausible than living dinosaurs or other large animals. They are small and could well be in remote parts of nearby Australia and New Guinea. And please we want more cold-blooded content on the channel.

[@christopherrodmell1694]

Uh Mate the tuatara is ONLY native to New Zealand. ONLY New Zealand, doesn’t matter if it’s small or if there’s gotta somewhere else where you can find these reptiles, it’s a New Zealand only thing,

[@stefanostokatlidis4861]

@@christopherrodmell1694 if we don’t search we won’t know.

[@brianedwards7142]

Cloacal kiss? And they have such big hands too. 🤔

[@naomiseraphina9718]

We are all living fossils. It's nice.

[@Il-FEROX-lI]

Given the urgency surrounding their proximity to the edge of extinction, the best thing that could be done to ensure their survival is too "out source" breeding efforts, and allow them to enter the reptile hobby; albiet with similar legal precautions in place to that of the NA Gila Monster or Beaded Lizard. Dispite their unique requirements, experts in the reptile hobby have consistently proven more efficient and accommodating than wild nurseries or even many zoos.

[@Uthgardloki]

part of this is straight from wikipedia

[@madmachanicest9955]

I think if you were looking for a modern-day descendant of non-avian dinosaurs the Tuataras is the best example of what you're looking for. there the closest relative to the tuatara would be non-avian dinosaurs if there were any life

[@qara_ch]

Crocodiles are significantly closer to dinosaurs than Tuataras

[@gumpyflyale2542]

Explain the footprints in search of the mokele mbembe and hat made them tell me.