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'''Tuatara''' is a [[reptile]] found in [[New Zealand]] and represented by two living species ''Sphenodon punctatus'' and ''Sphenodon guntheri''. The word "tuatara" is derived from the language of the Maori people (indigenous people of New Zealand), which means spine-bearer.<ref name=ASRLI> Margaret Helder [http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v13/i3/tuatara.asp Tantalizing tuatara: The attraction of this spiky reptile lies in an idea!] ''Answersingenesis.org''</ref> It is found in 32 offshore islands free of [[rodent]]s and [[mammal]]ian predators.<ref>[http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=33163 Facts about tuatara] ''Department of Conservation'', ''Government of New Zealand''</ref>

'''Tuatara''' is a [[reptile]] found in [[New Zealand]] and represented by two living species ''Sphenodon punctatus'' and ''Sphenodon guntheri''. The word "tuatara" is derived from the language of the Maori people (indigenous people of New Zealand), which means spine-bearer.<ref name=ASRLI> Margaret Helder [http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v13/i3/tuatara.asp Tantalizing tuatara: The attraction of this spiky reptile lies in an idea!] ''Answersingenesis.org''</ref> It is found in 32 offshore islands free of [[rodent]]s and [[mammal]]ian predators.<ref>[http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=33163 Facts about tuatara] ''Department of Conservation'', ''Government of New Zealand''</ref>

''Sphenodon'' is brownish or greenish animal.<ref name=ASRLI/> Males are larger in size than females. The average length of an adult male is approximately 61 cm and adult females are 45 cm in length.<ref name=encyclo>Cree, Alison. 2002. ''Tuatara.'' In: Halliday, Tim and Adler, Kraig (eds.), ''The new encyclopedia of reptiles and amphibians'', Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 210-211. ISBN 0-19-852507-9 </ref> The snout of the animal is long and the jaws are powerful. The four limbs are strongly built and the feet are partially webbed each having five toes. Each toe has a sharp claw. These animals weigh about one kilogram.<ref name=ASRLI/> A characteristic of this animal is parietal eye the purpose of which is believed to help with thermoregulation.<ref name=encyclo/> The pineal eye is also known as third eye which is visible in young animals, but it becomes covered with skin in adults.<ref name=ASRLI/> Tuatara have the slowest growth rates among reptiles.<ref name=encyclo/>  

''Sphenodon'' is brownish or greenish animal.<ref name=ASRLI/> Males are larger in size than females. The average length of an adult male is approximately 61 cm and adult females are 45 cm in length.<ref name=encyclo>Cree, Alison. 2002. ''Tuatara.'' In: Halliday, Tim and Adler, Kraig (eds.), ''The new encyclopedia of reptiles and amphibians'', Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 210-211. ISBN 0-19-852507-9 </ref> The snout of the animal is long and the jaws are powerful. The four [[limb]]s are strongly built and the feet are partially webbed each having five toes. Each toe has a sharp claw. These animals weigh about one kilogram.<ref name=ASRLI/> A characteristic of this animal is parietal eye the purpose of which is believed to help with thermoregulation.<ref name=encyclo/> The pineal eye is also known as third eye which is visible in young animals, but it is covered with [[skin]] in adults.<ref name=ASRLI/> Tuatara have the slowest growth rates among reptiles.<ref name=encyclo/>  

According to [[Theory of evolution|evolutionist]] scientists, these animals are "[[living fossil]]s".<ref>[http://www.icr.org/article/774/ The Profusion of Living Fossils] ''Institute For Creation Research''</ref> Evolutionists claim the tuatara survived for 220 million years.<ref>{{cite web | last=Russell| first=Matt | title= Tuatara, Relics of a Lost Age | work = Cold Blooded News| publisher= Colorado Herpetological Society| date=August, 1998 | url=http://webspinners.com/coloherp/cb-news/archive/nature/tuatara.php}}</ref> This view is criticized and rejected by [[Young Earth Creationism|creationist]] scientists. Margaret Helder, Ph.D., writes:<ref name=ASRLI/>

According to [[Theory of evolution|evolutionist]] scientists, these animals are "[[living fossil]]s".<ref>[http://www.icr.org/article/774/ The Profusion of Living Fossils] ''Institute For Creation Research''</ref> Evolutionists claim the tuatara survived for 220 million years.<ref>{{cite web | last=Russell| first=Matt | title= Tuatara, Relics of a Lost Age | work = Cold Blooded News| publisher= Colorado Herpetological Society| date=August, 1998 | url=http://webspinners.com/coloherp/cb-news/archive/nature/tuatara.php}}</ref> This view is criticized and rejected by [[Young Earth Creationism|creationist]] scientists. Margaret Helder, Ph.D., writes:<ref name=ASRLI/>