Tuartaras have survived this earth for 230 million years. Similar to its species' longevity, individuals boast long life lines as well. Most tuartarras live to see more than 100 candles on their birthday cakes. They reach sexual maturity between 10 and 20 years old, but may be much much older before actually putting their prowess to procreation-use. For example, Henry, an inhabitant of the Southland Museum in Invercargill, New Zealand, just fathered his first lizard brood of 11 at the white-whiskery age of 111; his much younger mate is his junior by 41 years (although, they didn't meet on "paymybills.com").
As is their reptilian nature, tuataras are ectothermic, meaning that they are unable to generate their own heat, with an optimal body temp between 16-21C (but they remain comfortable (and alive) at as low as 7C). Temperature dictates more than every day life for tuataras; in fact, it is the deciding factor when it comes to the sex of a hatchling tuatara. At over 72F, the brand new baby tuatara is likely to be male, and under that is likely to give way to female. It gets more severe though because if it gets much hotter than 72, all hatchlings will invariably (that's what I mean by "all") be male.
Thus, the current plight of the tuatara population: The spiny-back buggers aren't much for elevations, so that limits their ability to expand their habitats, and many of the select areas they do live are getting much too hot to foster females. By 2085, it is expected that no females at all would be possible in some areas.
After weathering the Mesozoic and merely flicking their tongues in the face of volcanoes and the ice ages, it would be a hot day indeed were the tuataras to finally draw this singular line in the sizzling sand.
Life sometimes can be male.
Male: --adj.
Of, or pertaining to, or being a male animal or plant
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