tuatara

tuatara
    n 1: only extant member of the order Rhynchocephalia of large
         spiny lizard-like diapsid reptiles of coastal islands off
         New Zealand [syn: {tuatara}, {Sphenodon punctatum}]
    

Hatteria \Hat*te"ri*a\ (h[a^]t*t[=e]"r[i^]*[.a]), n. [NL.]
   (Zool.)
   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 many
   Mesozoic fossil species are known; -- called also
   {Sphenodon}, {tuatara}, and {Tuatera}.
   [1913 Webster]
    

Tuatara \Tu`a*ta"ra\, n. [Maori tuat[`a]ra; tua on the farther
   side (the back) + tara spine.] (Zool.)
   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]