Science object bridge lizard in New Zealand: three rows of teeth and a vertex eye directed towards the sky
Photo: Frans Lanting / National GeographicTuataras are in league with dark forces. Whenever one of the indigenous people in New Zealand comes across one of these primeval reptiles, he is scared. Because a Maori knows: Then there is disaster in the air.
Nicola Nelson has been researching the bridge lizards, as the tuataras are also called, for 30 years. The biologist at Victoria University in Wellington knows the Maori reaction: "When I hold one of these lizards out to them, many people just look away. In no case do they want to touch the animals," she says.
But as scary as the half a meter long Tuataras are to the Maori, they still enjoy great respect in New Zealand, they are considered a treasure of nature. Indeed, the science of the bridge lizards is not that dissimilar to that of the Maori. Tuatara animals are also of exceptional value to biologists, and the ominous is part of their nature. Because they emerged from the most devastating catastrophe that has ever happened to life on earth.
Mirror Plus
Good reading. Understand more.
Special reports, analyzes and background information on topics that affect our society - from reporters from all over the world.
Your advantages with SPIEGEL +:
- Icon: Check
Unrestricted access
to all content on all your devices
Exclusive content
from the weekly magazine
- Icon: Check
Including digital edition
of the weekly magazine
Flexible term
can be canceled at any time
- Icon: Check
Flexible term
Cancel anytime online
A price
only € 19.99 per month
Start Free Month Buy Now Right Arrow Sign Up Now Right Arrow
Restore iTunes subscription
SPIEGEL + is processed via your iTunes account and paid for with a purchase confirmation. 24 hours before it expires, the subscription is automatically renewed for one month at the current price of € 19.99. You can cancel the subscription at any time in the settings of your iTunes account. In order to use SPIEGEL + outside of this app, you must link the subscription to a SPIEGEL ID account immediately after purchase. With the purchase you accept our general terms and conditions and privacy policy.