How do scientists know the tuatara is the oldest reptile, even older than the dinosaurs?

Scientists studied tuatara fossils from layers of rock that formed 200 million years ago. So that's one piece of evidence. Also, the scientists studying the tuatara believe their peculiar characteristics like their unusual jawbones show that they are very ancient reptiles.

The tuatara skull has the same number of holes as the dinosaurs'. So that's another way they can tell the tuatara is more closely related to the dinosaur than to modern lizards. One of the fossils that they found was similar to the tuatara, but was much bigger than the ones today so they know that some of the reptiles were much bigger.

When you were near the ocean, did you see a giant squid? Did you see any other kind of weird sea life? I didn't see a giant squid, although they are there at Kaikoura.

Giant squid tend to be very deep under the water. The strangest creature I saw was a chiton. These are shellfish, but their shells are actually in segments.

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