How a prehistoric survivor outlived the dinosaurs in New Zealand

Archives New Zealand · National Film Unit · CC BY

A prehistoric survivor untouched by evolution

Introduces the tuatara on Stephens Island as the sole survivor of an ancient reptile group unchanged for 135 million years.

Meet the 135-Million-Year-Old Living Dinosaur

100,000 prehistoric survivors on one tiny island

Details how eliminating invasive wild cats allowed 100,000 tuataras to thrive across a tiny 2-kilometer island.

How 100,000 Ancient Reptiles Saved an Island

Zoologists carefully collect and measure male and female tuataras at night to discover if the species can breed in captivity.

Scientists Race to Breed Living Fossils

[03:07] Meet the 135-Million-Year-Old Living Dinosaur
[06:06] How 100,000 Ancient Reptiles Saved an Island
[07:38] Scientists Race to Breed Living Fossils

How a prehistoric survivor outlived the dinosaurs in New Zealand

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