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Reptile with a third eye
The Tuatara is the sole survivor of a group of reptiles that
have existed for 200 million years. It is found only on
some small islands of New Zealand.
The Tuatara looks like a lizard, but it is not. Compared to
other reptiles, it has a very strong skull, a primitive
backbone and strangely-shaped ribs. It starts breeding only
after it is 20 years old. And it feeds on almost anything
it can find, including spiders, beetles, earthworms, even
birds eggs and chicks. The Tuatara remains in a burrow for
most of the day.
The Tuatara's most fascinating feature is its third or
pineal "eye". This occurs in many species of lizard too.
Externally, it looks like a tiny spot on top of the animal's
head. There is a cluster of light-sensitive cells situated
on top of its brain, just below a small hole in the skull.
This third "eye" probably serves to regulate the tuatara's
exposure to the sun and so regulate its body temperature.
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