111-Year Old ‘Living Fossil’ Reptile Now Dad

[samanthajane13]

August 15, 2008

NEW YORK -- Henry the tuatara, an endangered “living fossil,” will now become a father for the first time in decades at the age of 111, officials say.

Coupled with the younger Mildred, the reptile pair produced a dozen eggs last month after mating in March at the Southland Museum on New Zealand’s South Island.

What makes Henry’s rekindled fatherhood so unique, is that at 111 years old, he has surpassed the expected lifespan of his species which is between 60 and 100 years of age.

Henry has never shown much interest in sex during his residence at the museum’s special enclosure since 1970. That all has changed since he recently had a cancerous growth removed from his genitals. Now he is enjoying the company of three females.

Healthy tuataras can breed once a year, so curators hope next March could bring a new clutch of eggs spawned by Henry.

But it won’t be with Mildred. Female tuataras can only breed once every four years, much to the chagrin of their male counterparts, and zoologists who are struggling to keep this endangered ancient reptile alive.

Threatened by habitat loss and the introduction of Polynesian rats into that environment, tuataras have been on the endangered species list since 1895. It is a common story for many of New Zealand’s native species and the tuatara has only survived in the wild on the 31 offshore islands, while being extinct on the mainland. But in 2005 the tuataras were reintroduced to New Zealand’s mainland with a release into the heavily fenced and monitored Karori Wildlife Sanctuary.

Named after its physical characteristics, tuatara means “peaks on the back” in the Māori language.

Measuring up to 32 inches from head to tail-tip, tuataras are greenish brown and have a spiny crest along the back. They also have a pronounced parietal eye, fondly called the “third eye” by researchers who are still determining the function of it.

http://www.zootoo.com/petnews/111yearoldlivingfossilreptilen

[portal_reptiles]

would luv to have a tuatara....

[justanotherfroginthepond]

You can dream, Lance! 

[Travis590]

Wow that is a remarkable story. I am going to keep checking to see when the eggs hatch, that would e awesome to see in real life.

[KatiesCresteds]

*jumps in excitement* And about to attack the boyfriend for picking on me for being excited over something that isn't really considered a 'lizard'. I love ALL animals...gah, he's such a dork.

I did a lot of reading on Tuataras a while back, and what a remarkable species! Love them, and would love to be able to work with them some day. It's so good to hear they are breeding now, and thumbs up to the pimpin' Harry! Get those girls, old boy!!

[samanthajane13]

Henry the tuatara is a dad at 111
 By Kathy Marks, Asia-Pacific Correspondent
Monday, 26 January 2009

A rare reptile has become a father at the age of 111 for the first time. Henry, a New Zealand tuatara, confounded experts who believed he was past it when he succumbed to the charms of Mildred last year.

The female, who is estimated to be in her seventies, laid 12 eggs and yesterday, after 223 days of incubation, 11 baby tuatara successfully hatched.

Henry, a long-time resident of the Southland Museum and Art Gallery, on South Island, had previously ignored female tuatara, or even attacked them. As well as finally proving Henry’s virility, the hatchlings will give a much-needed boost to the genetic diversity of an endangered species.

Tuatara, which resemble lizards and can claim a lineage dating back 220 million years, are estimated to number 50,000, with most living in predator-free sanctuaries or on New Zealand’s offshore islands.

When the museum, in the town of Invercargill, became his home in 1970, Henry was already aged at least 70. He proved to be “a grumpy old man”, and was kept in solitary confinement because of his aggressive behaviour. When staff first tried to persuade him to mate with Mildred 25 years ago, he bit off her tail. But last year his keepers found a cancerous tumour beneath his genitals and when the tumour was removed his libido was restored.

The tuatara curator, Lindsay Hazley, who has looked after Henry for 36 years, said his charge’s personality had changed completely after the operation. Mr Hazley, who rushed home from holiday to attend the births said that he was “over the moon”.

The offspring are being looked after away from their parents because adult tuataras sometimes eat their young. Tuataras reach sexual maturity at 20

and can live to between 150 and 250 years, which gives Henry plenty of opportunity to make up for lost time. He is expected to mate with Lucy, one of three females he currently lives with, in the spring.

The museum, which has 72 tuatara following 42 hatchings during the last two years, plans to post three hours of footage of the latest arrivals on its website, www.southlandmuseum.com.


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/henry-the-tuatara-is-a-dad-at-111-1516628.html

[justanotherfroginthepond]

I just read this article this afternoon.... WAY cool!

[samanthajane13]

Yup!

Congrats, Henry and Mildred!!!

[honuman]

would luv to have a tuatara....

LOL  always wanted one myself Lance from around the time I was 15  (I believe that was 2 years before electricity was invented -- Donna -- back me up on that one LOL!! )

I got some shield tailed agamas (the body --not the tail)  Looks tuatara-ish so I just fantasize that that is what they are and they tried to cross the road and got their tails flattened by a vehicle.  LOL!!!

[samanthajane13]

"I believe that was 2 years before electricity was invented -- Donna -- back me up on that one LOL!! Grin"


Yes, Steve, according to prehistoric data...YOU'RE JUST AS ANCIENT AS I AM-give or take a few months.

So YES-STEVE IS AN OLD FART, TOO!!!

What's that, Steve??  I didn't say what you wanted to hear???

Time for us to get back to the rest home to get our meds, Steve...and it's CANASTA and JELLO NIGHT!!!!  Then it's lights out be 8 pm!!!

LOL!!!

[honuman]

Time for us to get back to the rest home to get our meds, Steve...and it's CANASTA and JELLO NIGHT!!!!  Then it's lights out be 8 pm!!!

LOL!!!

Hey I was not implying that I was any younger just wanted someone else who used to write on stone tablets to back my old fart statement up.

Jello night!!! Cool beans -- I can leave my teeth out!!!!

[samanthajane13]

I guess those "down-state" NY schools were REALLY behind the times.

WE had PAPYRUS!!!! 

 

[honuman]

I guess those "down-state" NY schools were REALLY behind the times.

WE had PAPYRUS!!!! 

 

Papyrus schmyrus --- don't bother me I'm slurping my Jello --  MMMM raspberry --my favorite!!!

[samanthajane13]

"Papyrus schmyrus --- don't bother me I'm slurping my Jello --  MMMM raspberry --my favorite!!!"

I'm NOT TOUCHING THAT ONE!!!

[honuman]

"I'm NOT TOUCHING THAT ONE!!!

 Teeth are back in see