Tuatara

Tuatara
Tuatara Tu`a*ta"ra, n. [Maori tuat[`a]ra; tua on the farther side (the back) + tara spine.] (Zo["o]l.) 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} and {hatteria}. [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • tuatara — [to͞o΄ə tä′rə] n. [Maori tuatàra < tua, back (< Proto Polynesian * tu a) + tara, spine (< Proto Polynesian * tala, sharp object)] either of two primitive, amphibious, lizardlike reptiles (Sphenodon punctatus or S. guntheri) of the SW… …   English World dictionary

  • tuatara — New Zealand lizard, 1890, from Maori, from tua on the back + tara spine …   Etymology dictionary

  • Tuatara — This article is about the animal. For other uses, see Tuatara (disambiguation). Tuatara Male tuatara Conservation status …   Wikipedia

  • Tuatara — Sphénodon Sphénodon …   Wikipédia en Français

  • tuatara — /tooh euh tahr euh/, n. a large, primarily nocturnal, lizardlike reptile, Sphenodon punctatum, of islands near the coast of New Zealand: the only surviving rhynchocephalian. Also, tuatera /tooh euh tair euh/. Also called sphenodon. [1810 20; …   Universalium

  • tuatara — Hatteria Hat*te ri*a (h[a^]t*t[=e] r[i^]*[.a]), n. [NL.] (Zo[ o]l.) A New Zealand lizard, which, in anatomical character, differs widely from all other existing lizards. It is the only living representative of the order {Rhynchocephala}, of which …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tuatara — noun (plural tara or taras) Etymology: Maori tuatàra Date: 1890 a large spiny quadrupedal reptile (Sphenodon punctatum) of islands off the coast of New Zealand that has a vestigial third eye in the middle of the forehead representing the pineal… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Tuatara — Brückenechsen i. e. S. Brückenechse (Sphenodon punctatus) Systematik Reihe: Landwirbeltiere (Tetrapoda) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • tuatara — ► sustantivo masculino ZOOLOGÍA Reptil rinocefálido, único representante vivo de los rinocéfalos. (Sphenodon punctatum.) * * * ► masculino ZOOLOGÍA Reptil del orden rincocéfa los (Sphaenodon punctatus), de forma similar a un lagarto de grandes… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Tuatara (band) — Tuatara is a Seattle based instrumental music group featuring members of R.E.M., The Minus 5, Critters Buggin, and the Screaming Trees.HistoryThe band was formed in 1996 by R.E.M. s Peter Buck (guitar), Barrett Martin of the Screaming Trees… …   Wikipedia

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