HLM -Chapter 1203 The Chameleon’s Brothers Have Arrived

New Zealand, this isolated island nation, is a magical land where some creatures exist that cannot be found in other countries or regions.

Nowadays, many countries like to label certain species as “living fossils.” For example, China has its national treasure, the giant panda; Australia has the six-gilled shark; and the United States has the dawn redwood. Naturally, New Zealand couldn’t be left behind—it has its own living fossil: the tuatara.

The tuatara is one of New Zealand’s most endangered protected species. Its English name, Tuatara, comes from the Māori language, meaning “carrying a mountain on its back.” Its Chinese scientific name is “beaked lizard,” and because of the unique structure of its teeth, it’s also called the “wedge-toothed lizard.” However, New Zealanders prefer to call it the New Zealand crocodile lizard.

This name is not only simple and down-to-earth but also immediately indicates its place of origin.

The New Zealand crocodile lizard is endemic to the country and has remained largely unchanged since the Triassic period, making it a primitive species of lizard—a living fossil among reptiles. Today, it has no close relatives on Earth, but two hundred million years ago, it had many kin. Unfortunately, the tuatara is the only one left to survive to the present.

Wang Bo had only seen this creature on television and had never encountered it in real life. When he received a call from Professor Sandra, he hurried over.

The Lincoln University branch campus was under intense construction. Many buildings were still laying foundations. The experimental area mainly cultivated crops, so it didn’t require tall buildings or deep foundations and was the first area to be built.

The so-called experimental area was a fenced-off grassland containing several simple steel-roofed and prefabricated buildings. It was quite basic.

On the way there, Wang Bo recalled an “Academic Heart” he had drawn earlier. He had never used it before and wasn’t sure how. Now that a school had appeared in town, perhaps it could be applied here? Thinking this, he opened his sandbox map, located Lincoln University, and placed the Academic Heart there.

To his surprise, the pale green crystal heart, which couldn’t be used elsewhere, instantly merged with the site. Clearly, this heart had been meant for a school all along. Wang Bo had just misapplied it before—not considering elementary and secondary schools—so it had gone unused until now. A happy accident, one might say.

Upon arriving at the experimental area, the zone was enclosed by an electric iron fence. Security checked his credentials before letting him in.

Professor Sandra was waiting in front of a 200-square-meter steel-roofed building. Upon seeing him, she waved.

Wang Bo entered and noticed that much of the building had been modified to resemble a reef. Rocks were scattered on the ground, and several tuataras crawled about.

The tuataras looked much like ordinary lizards, but their heads were longer, giving them a slight crocodile-like appearance—obviously the origin of their name.

Their skin varied in color—gray, brown, green—and their sizes differed. The largest could reach eighty centimeters from head to tail tip.

However, compared to the imposing umbrella lizards in the zoo, they were relatively small. Even the largest probably didn’t weigh more than one kilogram.

Upon seeing Wang Bo, the tuataras immediately became alert and scurried into nearby rock crevices to hide. Some, unable to find shelter, stood defiantly with their heads raised, seemingly giving up.

Gradually, something fascinating happened: their skin color began to change, blending in with the surrounding rocks. One even matched the color of nearby seaweed, turning a green-brown shade.

Wang Bo was astonished: “They can change color?”

Professor Sandra smiled: “Yes, many people think of chameleons as their distant cousins. They can adjust their color to match the environment, though their speed is far slower than a chameleon’s.”

Curiously observing the little creatures, Wang Bo asked, “So why did you call me here?”

Professor Sandra’s eyes brightened: “These tuataras are from Tompson Island, which is currently experiencing a rat infestation. Their lives are seriously threatened, so we need to find them a new home.”

Tuatara currently live on many of New Zealand’s offshore islands, where they are far from humans and predators. However, some habitats have been invaded by rodents—mainly large rats—putting their survival at risk.

Since the late 19th century, tuataras have been listed as protected animals by the New Zealand government, which shows how precious they are. Back then, many countries didn’t even have legal protection for humans.

Wang Bo chuckled: “They’re afraid of rats? Their name even has ‘crocodile’ in it.”

Indeed, tuataras are formidable—they can bully smaller creatures with ease. Their diet includes hatchlings, eggs, beetles, crickets, spiders, frogs, and even young of their own species. Young tuataras usually hide in rock crevices or shelters to avoid being eaten by adults.

However, when facing a larger or more ferocious predator, they’re outmatched. Rats move too quickly, have sharp teeth, and often attack in groups. Tuataras encounter them and become part of a luxurious lunch or dinner.

Professor Sandra explained that many of the tuataras in this group were elderly and couldn’t escape from rats, which made protection necessary.

Wang Bo asked, “I read that tuataras have a long lifespan, right?”

Professor Sandra nodded: “Yes, they take about twenty years to reach maturity—slower than humans. They can continue growing until forty and become stronger and larger. Their average lifespan is at least sixty years, and in this group, we have found at least five over a hundred years old.”

“Over a hundred years old?” Wang Bo exclaimed.

Professor Sandra nodded: “Yes. In captivity, free from predators and food shortages, tuataras can potentially live up to 200 years.”

Adult tuataras molt at least once a year, like other cold-blooded animals. Each molt allows a small increase in size.

Unfortunately, their growth genes are limited, otherwise they could grow as large as Godzilla. But if they did grow that big, they wouldn’t have survived to the present. Their longevity is partly due to their modest appetites.

Wang Bo understood the implication and laughed: “I don’t mind how much they eat, but I’m not sure where in Sunset Town they could be raised safely.”