Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1901 — Lizards That Grow New Eyes. [ARTICLE]

Lizards That Grow New Eyes.

The tuatara lizard of New Zealand is said to be one of the most ancient forms of animal life now existing. It originally possessed four eyes, but now has to be contented with but two. It lays eggs, and these take no less than 13 months to hatch out, the embryos passing the winter in a state of hibernation. These remarkable animals are found only in one or two places in the colony, and they are rapidly becoming scarce, as collectors from every part of the world are continually on their track. They are about 18 inches in length and, like many of the lizards, are said to have the characteristic of being able to replace portions of their limbs, etc., which have been destroyed. One owned by Mr. Carl Hanser of Awanui had the misfortune to lose an eye some time ago, and now a complete new eye, as perfect as the undamaged one, has grown in the place of that lost. While the eye was developing the lizard seemed to be no more inconvenienced than a human being is in the growing of finger nails or hair.