Ever dreamed of a dinosaur that didn't go extinct and decided to hang out in New Zealand, munching bugs and staring at the sun with its extra eyeball? Say hello to the tuatara – Aotearoa's quirkiest reptile, the last of its ancient kind, and basically a "living fossil" that's been chilling since the time of the dinosaurs! In this wild episode of the Kiwiland Podcast, the Kiwiland Kids and their Dad geek out over these spiky, slow-moving superstars: Why do they have a mysterious third eye on top of their heads (spoiler: it's for sensing light, not selfies!)? How do they grow for 30 years straight and live up to 100? And what's the deal with their "spiny back" that makes them look like mini-dragons from a Kiwi fairy tale?
From hidden island hideouts (they're only found in NZ!) to Māori legends where they're sacred guardians, we uncover hilarious facts, rate their "cool factor" , and imagine tuataras crashing a family BBQ. Perfect for New Zealand animal lovers, Kiwiana explorers, or anyone obsessed with weird reptiles and fun NZ wildlife!
Kiwiland Podcast: Family adventures uncovering Aotearoa's magic – hosted by the Kiwiland Kids and Dad. New episodes every few weeks on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and YouTube. Subscribe for more quirky tales! #TuataraNZ #LivingFossil #NewZealandReptiles #Kiwiana #NZWildlife #ThirdEyeTuatara #QuirkyAnimals #KiwilandPodcast