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Unlike birds, mammals, or insects, reptiles haven’t made it to every continent on Earth. They live in many different places—on dry land, in lakes, along rivers, or near the sea. But they don’t live in very cold places, such as the Arctic. They need heat from the Sun to keep them warm. The thick, leafy forests around the equator are home

Tuataras are very rare. They live only on a few small islands around New Zealand. 7

to many different reptiles. Others are found in cooler woodlands and grasslands. Some reptiles, such as geckos, even share our houses.

SIDEBAR

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Tuataras have a spiny crest running down their backs. The Maori people of New Zealand gave these strange reptiles their name, which means “peaks on the back.”

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