Tu Meke Tuatara Paperback

Tu Meke Tuatara Paperback

Tu Meke Tuatara is a story of friendship, courage and discovering that sometimes it’s our differences that make us truly special.

Tahi the Tuatara is down in the dumps and no matter what his friend, Roger the Ruru tries, nothing seems to change his mood. It’s not until they answer a cry for help that their journey takes an unexpected turn.

Tu Meke Tuatara! is a story about empathy, friendship and discovering that sometimes the best way we can feel better about ourselves, is to help someone else.

• Measures 24cm x 24cm
• 22 pages of full colour
• Paperback
• From award-winning New Zealand author Malcolm Clarke
• Illustrated by Flox (Aka Hayley King)
• Designed and published by Mary Egan Ltd

Tu Meke Tui is the first book in the series from the same author! Click HERE to see our range of books in Te Reo Maori.

Not too many creatures can claim to be one of a kind, but that s a boast the tuatara can make. In fact, the tuatara is among the most unique wildlife in the world. Although it looks like a lizard, it really is quite different. Found in New Zealand only, the tuatara s closest relatives are an extinct group of reptiles around at the time of the dinosaurs. This is why some scientists refer to tuataras as living fossils.

Both male and female tuataras have a crest of spiky scales, called spines, down the center of their back and tail. Males are larger than the females. The name tuatara is a Maori word meaning peaks on back or spiny back. Tuataras have no external ears as lizards do; they enjoy cooler weather, while lizards like it warm; and, unlike lizards, tuataras are nocturnal.

But their most curious body part is a third eye on the top of the head. The eye has a retina, lens, and nerve endings, yet it is not used for seeing. It is visible under young tuataras skin but becomes covered with scales and pigment in a few months, making it hard to see. The unique eye is sensitive to light and may help the tuatara judge the time of day or season.