New Zealand Frogs & Reptiles

11003-97114 Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) on Stephens Island, often 'share' burrows with fairy prion, although the relationship is distinctly one-sided. Stephens Island tuatara contribute to around a 28% failure of all prion eggs laid, either through direct predation, through interference by causing desertion or the exclusion of breeding parents from the nesting chamber, or by the direct predation of chicks. Stephens Island *

26 / 445

11003-97114 Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) on Stephens Island, often 'share' burrows with fairy prion, although the relationship is distinctly one-sided. Stephens Island tuatara contribute to around a 28% failure of all prion eggs laid, either through direct predation, through interference by causing desertion or the exclusion of breeding parents from the nesting chamber, or by the direct predation of chicks. Stephens Island *

97114 Cook Strait tuatara Sphenodon punctatus large male fairy prion night forest female sharing burrow Fairy prion Stephens Island