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The extant (living) reptiles of New Zealand consist of numerous species of terrestrial lizards and the lizard-like tuatara, and several species of sea turtles and sea snakes. [1] All but one species are native to New Zealand, and all but one of the terrestrial species are endemic to New Zealand, that is, they are not found in any other country.
Tuatara are the largest reptiles in New Zealand. [47] Adult S. punctatus males measure 61 cm (24 in) in length and females 45 cm (18 in). [24] Tuatara are sexually dimorphic, males being larger. [24] The San Diego Zoo even cites a length of up to 80 cm (31 in). [48] Males weigh up to 1 kg (2.2 lb), and females up to 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). [24]
The kiwi is a national symbol of New Zealand. The animals of New Zealand , part of its biota , have an unusual history because, before the arrival of humans, less than 900 years ago, the country was mostly free of mammals, except those that could swim there ( seals , sea lions , and, off-shore, whales and dolphins ) or fly there ( bats ).
Reptiles in New Zealand were well known to Māori in pre-European times and featured in many carvings, [9] some of which obviously depict tuatara and others which depict lizards. [9] The body shape of many examples suggests that they are geckos, though skinks also seem to be depicted. [9]
Dinosaurs that lived in the Ross Dependency, a part of Antarctica within the Realm of New Zealand, include the tetanuran Cryolophosaurus.The Ross Dependency, unlike the Chatham Islands, is not actually part of New Zealand, and this is why it is excluded from the list above until sufficient evidence shows that it entered what was the sector of Gondwana that is now New Zealand.
The New Zealand government, through the Department of Conservation, works aggressively to protect what remains of New Zealand's biological heritage. It has pioneered work on island restoration where offshore islands are systematically cleared of introduced species such as goats, feral cats and rats.
Named Gondwanax paraisensis, the four-legged reptile species was roughly the size of a small dog with a long tail, or about 1 meter (39 inches) long and weighing between 3 and 6 kg (7 to 13 pounds ...
Pages in category "Endemic reptiles of New Zealand" The following 88 pages are in this category, out of 88 total. This list may not reflect recent changes. *