tuatara

[ too-uh-tahr-uh ]
/ ˌtu əˈtɑr ə /

noun

a large, primarily nocturnal, lizardlike reptile, Sphenodon punctatum, of islands near the coast of New Zealand: the only surviving rhynchocephalian.
Also tu·a·te·ra [too-uh-tair-uh] /ˌtu əˈtɛər ə/.
Also called sphenodon.

Origin of tuatara

1810–20; < Maori, equivalent to tua dorsal + tara spine

British Dictionary definitions for tuatara

tuatara
/ (ˌtuːəˈtɑːrə) /

noun

a greenish-grey lizard-like rhynchocephalian reptile, Sphenodon punctatus, occurring only on certain small islands near New Zealand: it is the sole surviving member of a group common in Mesozoic times

Word Origin for tuatara

C19: from Māori, from tua back + tara spine