Sphenodon punctatum

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
Sphenodon punctatum
    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}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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]
    

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