There are a couple of orders of herps that most people will never see. One is Gymnophiona, or caecilians, and the other is Rhynchocephalia, or Tuatara. Older texts also refer to another order, called Amphisbaenia (worm lizards), but those have since been reclassified as lizards. There is only one species of Tuatara. They may look like lizards, but these New Zealand reptiles are the only surviving member of a different animal altogether. Measuring a little over two feet (61 cm) and weighing up to 2.2 lbs. (1 kg), Tuataras prefer cooler temperatures than most reptiles.
This lesson is part of Certified Herpetological Guide. Enrollment is self-paced, with no deadline to finish (about 50 hours).
