A photo of the tuatara model as displayed. It's an adult in a resting but alert pose, the skin is olive green, and the midline crest is very obvious. The mouth is closed so the teeth are not visible. The base is a pale brick colour.

Obligatory photo of the #tuatara model (on display as part of the Animal Senses exhibit).

#Rhynchocephalia
#Sphenodon
www.nms.ac.uk/search-our-c...
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The first page of the scientific study by Albert Gunther "Contribution to the Anatomy o f Hatteria (Rhynchocephalus Owen)" published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (vol. 157, pages 595–629). Received April 4,— Read May 2, 1867. Communicated by Professor Owen FRS.

Happy #TuataraDay! It's now 158 years since the New Zealand #tuatara (Sphenodon) was recognised to be the only living representative of #Rhynchocephalia rather than some kind of lizard.
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
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I'm sure I read about a legless rhynchocephalian. I even think I saw a picture of a fossil. But I can't recall what it is named. Anyone know anything about it?

#Rhynchocephalia
#tuatara
#Sphenodon
#lizard
#notLizard
#legLess
#reptile
#fossil

Tuatara

(Chester Zoo, Chester, September 2024)

#photography #animalphotography #zoophotography #zoo #animals #conservation #reptiles #herpetology #herping #rhynchocephalia #Tuatara #ChesterZoo #Chester