The Evolutionary History of Tuatara and its Extinct Relatives

Explore the fascinating evolutionary history of Tuatara and its extinct relatives in this comprehensive lecture by Dr. David G. DeMar, Jr. from the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. Delve into the world of Rhynchocephalia, a group of lizard-like reptiles that once thrived during the Mesozoic era but are now represented solely by the modern tuatara in New Zealand. Discover new insights into the morphology and evolution of these ancient creatures, based on the analysis of a nearly complete fossil skeleton of a new, small-bodied rhynchocephalian found in Wyoming, U.S.A. This 1-hour and 13-minute presentation offers a unique opportunity to understand the biogeographical distribution and species richness of these reptiles throughout history, shedding light on their remarkable journey from widespread existence to near extinction.