What is the scientific name of the tuatara?

The scientific name of the tuatara is Sphenodon punctatus.

The tuatara is a reptile endemic to New Zealand, but it is not a lizard. It is the only living member of the order Rhynchocephalia, a lineage that was widespread and diverse during the Mesozoic Era. Its closest living relatives are lizards and snakes, which belong to the separate order Squamata.

The name Sphenodon combines Greek roots associated with a wedge and a tooth, referring to the animal’s distinctive teeth. The species name punctatus is Latin for “spotted,” describing the pale spots commonly visible on its skin. The Māori word tuatara means “peaks on the back,” referring to its spiny crest.

Early scientists mistakenly classified the animal as a lizard. A second supposed species, Sphenodon guntheri, was recognized for the Brothers Island population, but genetic research led to its reclassification in 2009 as the subspecies Sphenodon punctatus guntheri. That taxonomic history explains why the alternative can look plausible, while the accepted species name remains Sphenodon punctatus.