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Rare "living fossil" nest found on New Zealand mainland
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 31 - 10 - 2008

The first nest of eggs laid by tuatara reptiles- living fossils who are descendants of the dinosaurs - has been
found on the New Zealand mainland in more than 200 years, the Karori
Wildlife Sanctuary reported on Saturday, according to dpa.
Staff found four ping-pong-ball-sized leathery white eggs while
doing routine maintenance work near the 8.6 kilometre predator-proof
fence around the 225-hectare sanctuary in suburban Wellington,
manager Raewyn Empson said.
She said they were immediately covered up to avoid disturbing the
nest which could contain up to 10 eggs that should hatch between now
and March.
Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), which are unique to New Zealand,
are the only survivors of the dinosaur-like reptile species
Rhynchocephalia, which became extinct about 60 million years ago and
scientists refer to them as "living fossils."
Rats destroyed the population on the New Zealand mainland more
than 200 years ago, but small numbers remained on offshore islands.
Some were moved to the Karori sanctuary in 2005 to re-establish
them on the mainland in a predator-proof environment so that more New
Zealanders could see them.


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