[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/tuatara/)

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# tuatara

noun (a tuatara, tuatara or tuataras)

«tuatara» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A tuatara is a lizard-like reptile found only in New Zealand; it is the last living member of a very old group of reptiles that lived alongside the dinosaurs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuatara/#m1)

### In the lessons

In science and New Zealand studies it is a famous "living fossil" example. It shows how islands can keep very old kinds of animals. The name comes from Maori and means "peaks on the back". Phrases: a living fossil, tuatara sanctuary.

### Examples

- The tuatara lives only in New Zealand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuatara/#x1)
- A tuatara is not a true lizard, even though it looks like one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuatara/#x2)
- Some tuatara live for more than a hundred years. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuatara/#x3)
- The tuatara has spines along its back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuatara/#x4)
- Rats nearly wiped out the tuatara on many islands. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuatara/#x5)
- We saw a tuatara at the wildlife sanctuary. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuatara/#x6)

### Note

Plural: tuatara (as in Maori) or tuataras. Said too-a-TAH-ra. Trap: it looks like a lizard but belongs to a different group. Young tuatara have a "third eye" spot on the top of the head that senses light.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «tuatara» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuatara/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«tuatara» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tuatara.html) on Mova free.