hatteria

2 definitions found

hatteria - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Hatteria \Hat*te"ri*a\ (h[a^]t*t[=e]"r[i^]*[.a]), n. [NL.]
     (Zool.)
     A New Zealand lizard, which, in anatomical character, differs
     widely from all other existing lizards. It is the only living
     representative of the order Rhynchocephala, of which many
     Mesozoic fossil species are known; -- called also
     Sphenodon, tuatara, and Tuatera.
     [1913 Webster]

  Tuatara \Tu`a*ta"ra\, n. [Maori tuat[`a]ra; tua on the farther
     side (the back) + tara spine.] (Zool.)
     A large iguanalike reptile (Sphenodon punctatum) formerly
     common in New Zealand, but by 1900 confined to certain islets
     near the coast. It reaches a length of two and a half feet,
     is dark olive-green with small white or yellowish specks on
     the sides, and has yellow spines along the back, except on
     the neck. It is the only surviving member of the order
     Rhyncocephala. Also called tuatera and hatteria.
     [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]