Tuatara

No, Tuatara isn't another Japanese monster who battles Godzilla in some really bad B movie. The Tuatara is a lizard-like reptile that is found only in New Zealand. They are the only living members of the Order Sphenodontia, which lived during the age of the dinosaurs, over 200 million years ago!

My favorite part about the Tuatara is that it has a third eye on the top of its head! The eye has its own lens, cornea, retina and degenerated nerve connection to the brain, suggesting it evolved from a real eye. The eye is only visible in hatchlings, which have a translucent patch at the top center of the skull. After four to six months the eye becomes covered with opaque scales and pigment. Its purpose is unknown, but it may be useful in absorbing ultraviolet light to manufacture vitamin D or to help regulate body temperature.

Today the Tuatara only lives on a few islands around New Zealand, although there are many captive breeding colonies on the mainland. There is a large Tuatara colony at the Southland Museum in Invercargill where the public can see these amazing reptiles up close. Unfortunately when we visited, it was too cold for the lizards so they were all comatose in their burrows. Although we did get to see 11 hatchlings, along with their third "eye".

Maybe Godzilla vs The Three-Eyed Tuatara will be coming to a theater near you....