Tuatara
Sphenodon punctatus (Gray, 1842)
Basic info
| Common names |
|
|---|---|
| Species name | Sphenodon punctatus |
| Scientific name | Sphenodon punctatus (Gray, 1842) |
| Taxonomy | Animalia Chordata Sphenodontia Sphenodontidae Sphenodon punctatus |
Temperatures & Season
Day time temperatures
| Background summer | 13 - 20 °F |
|---|---|
| Background winter | 12 - 17 °F |
| Basking spot | 30 °F |
Night time temperatures
| Background summer | 12 - 15 °F |
|---|---|
| Background winter | 6 - 9 °F |
Season
| Winter treatment | hibernation |
|---|---|
| Photoperiod summer | 14 hours |
| Photoperiod winter | 10 hours |
Microhabitats
Microhabitats are specific small habitats that an organism inhabits within its broader environment. These can vary greatly depending on the species and can give us insights into the preferred living conditions of each reptile. Understanding these microhabitats can be key to providing the correct care for these animals in captivity.
- Rocks, crevices or burrows
Ferguson Zones
Ferguson Zones are a way to classify the amount of UV light that reptiles are exposed to in their natural habitats. These zones help us understand and replicate their natural light conditions in captivity, promoting the health and wellbeing of the reptiles. Below, we detail the specific Ferguson Zones of the Chinese Water Dragon, along with recommendations for replicating these conditions
The Ferguson Zone in which the Tuatara has been placed has been chosen based upon an assessment of its typical basking behaviour and likely microhabitat in the wild.
Recommended lighting methods in captivity
Sunbeam method
This method uses the 'Max UVI Recorded' value as a guide for the upper limit of the UVB gradient in captivity. This maximum should be the highest level which a Tuatara can obtain at its closest approach to its UVB lamp. The highlighted area in the table below represents this range for the Tuatara.
More in-depth information about Ferguson zones can be found here: https://jzar.org/jzar/article/view/150
Community collected distribution (1397 occurrences)
Biomes
These are the biomes the Tuatara was found in. Click here to learn more about terrestrial ecoregions and biomes.
- Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
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References
- Baines, F.M., Chattell, J., Dale, J., Garrick, D., Gill, I., Goetz, M., Skelton, T. and Swatman, M. 2016. How much UVB does my reptile need? The UV-Tool, a guide to the selection of UV lighting for reptiles and amphibians in captivity. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research. 4, 1 (Jan. 2016), 42–63. DOI:https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v4i1.150.
- Sphenodon punctatus (Gray, 1842) in GBIF Secretariat (2021). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org
- Gray, J. E. Description of two hitherto unrecorded species of reptiles from New Zealand; presented to the British Museum by Dr. Dieffenbach.
- iNaturalist. Available from https://www.inaturalist.org