New Zealand Frogs & Reptiles

11003-99022 Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) male sharing burrow with fairy prion chick. This tuatara was once recognised as a separate species and named Gunthers tuatara (Sphenodon guntheri) for a short period from 1989 onwards. This population of approximately 400 characteristically small, strongly marked individuals are confined to North Brother Island in the Marlborough Sounds. However a re-examination of the genetic bases used to distinguish this species of tuatara has concluded they only represent geographic variants, and so only one species should be recognized. North Brother Island.

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11003-99022 Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) male sharing burrow with fairy prion chick. This tuatara was once recognised as a separate species and named Gunthers tuatara (Sphenodon guntheri) for a short period from 1989 onwards. This population of approximately 400 characteristically small, strongly marked individuals are confined to North Brother Island in the Marlborough Sounds. However a re-examination of the genetic bases used to distinguish this species of tuatara has concluded they only represent geographic variants, and so only one species should be recognized. North Brother Island.

99022 brothers island tuatara sphenodon punctatus male sharing burrow fairy prion chick guntheri gunther's north