Kōrero: Tuatara

Teeth

Tuatara have a single row of teeth in their lower jaw, and a double row in their upper jaw (obscured by the top lip). When the jaws close, the bottom row fits between the two upper rows. The teeth are actually serrated extensions of the jawbone. Once they wear down they are not replaced, and some old tuatara have almost smooth jaws.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Victoria University of Wellington
Photograph by Stephanie Godfrey

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Charles Daugherty and Susan Keall, 'Tuatara - Tuatara islands', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/14989/teeth (accessed 29 April 2024)

He kōrero nā Charles Daugherty and Susan Keall, i tāngia i te 24 Sep 2007