Sphenodon punctatum, or tuatara, is a nocturnal, carnivorous reptile endemic to New Zealand, known as a 'living fossil' due to its unchanged characteristics over millions of years. It has a lifespan of over 100 years and features a complex anatomical structure with a short, coiled alimentary canal and a partially 4-chambered heart. Conservation efforts for the tuatara are underway in response to threats from global warming and habitat loss.

1. B Y : - DR . N A NDA J A GTAP
D U BSS C O LLAGE , D A POLI
Sphenodon – A Living
Fossil

2. Synopsis
1. Introduction
2. Classification
3. Habit & habitat
4. Morphological features
5. Anatomical features
6. Phylogeny
7. Economic Importance
8. Conclusion

3. Introduction
The living fossil is an animal that has survived
beyond its era.
Living Fossil is a organism which Keeps its
Characters Unchanged around Millions of year
 Sphenodon punctatum is commonly known as
Tuatara.
Life span is up to 100 years or more .

4. Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Rhynchocephalia
Family Sphenodontidae
Genus Sphenodon

5. Habit & Habitat
 Sphenodon inhabits burrows made in the soft soil
and in rocks.
 Terrestrial ,nocturnal, carnivorous and oviparous.
Endemic to New Zealand.

6. Morphological features
 Tuatara is lizard-like reptile and measures about 60
CM in length

7. Anatomical Features
 Endoskeleton:-
- Vertebrae are amphicoelous with remnants of
notochord in the inter central spaces.
- Ribs are single headed, uncinate prosess.
- Skull is lizard-like but there is a complete lower
temporal arch.

8. Digestive system
• It consist of alimentary canal and associated
digestive line.
• Alimentary canal is short and coiled which begins
from mouth and finish with cloaca.

9. Respiratory System
 It includes respiratory tract and respiratory organ.
• Trachea is long ,elongated & it’s anterior part dilated
called larynx, supported by cricoid and arytenoids
cartilages
• It emits soft frog like croak.
• lungs are paired elongated fusiform thin walled
elastic sac.

10. Anatomy of Sphenodon

11. Blood Vascular System
 Blood vascular system is similar to lizard.
 Heart is triangular, red in color and partially 4
chambered muscular organ, two auricles and one
ventricle with incomplete septum .
 Sinus venous not easily distinguish externally.
 Jacobson’s organs in primitive form .

12. Nervous System
 Brain lies inside the cranial cavity covered by two
membranes , inner piamater and outer duramater.
Brain is divided into three regions namely
forebrain , midbrain and hindbrain.
 olfactory lobes are small and Cerebral hemisphere
larger in size.

13. Urinogenital System
Excretory and reproductive organs are closely
associated and forming urino genital system.
Paired metanephric kidney are elongated , dark red
flattened lying in posterior region of abdominal
cavity.

14. Phylogeny
Phylogeny means an evolutionary development and
diversification of a species or a group of an organism.
Primitive reptiles are originated from some primitive
amphibians in the beginning of Carboniferous
period.
No fossil specimen of Sphenodon has been found.
It is referred as a “Living Fossil”.

15. Economic Importance
 Tuatara is an extremely important component of
extant biodiversity
It has played a key role in phylogenetic analysis.
It is valuable for comparative studies of soft tissue
and behavior in lizard.
It is used as model organism.
It has appeared on stamps and 5 cent coin.

16. Conclusion
 There is no evolution therefore Sphenodon is
 on the way of extinction. Due to global worming,
their island habitat is becoming less.
 Conservation of Sphenodon has started by The
Government Of New Zealand.

17. References
1) Chordate Zoology Jordan and
Verma, Chand Publications.
2) Vertebrates Kotpal,
Rastogi publications.
3) www.google.coms

18. THANKYOU!