Diet of tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) translocated to Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary in southern New Zealand

Abstract

Scats from tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) were investigated in autumn at Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary on South Island, New Zealand. Eighty-seven tuatara had been translocated there 5–7 months previously, either directly from Stephens Island/Takapourewa or via captivity. Tuatara at Ōrokonui fed on diverse invertebrates, including beetles, millipedes, spiders, dipteran flies and cave wētā. Prey occurrence in large scats (presumed to come from adults) was similar in frequency to that in small scats (presumed to be from medium–large juveniles), apart from a higher incidence of spiders in those from adults. Tuatara scats contained scarabaeid and large carabid beetles more frequently, and tenebrionid beetles less frequently, than reported on Stephens Island. Unlike tuatara on Stephens Island, those at Ōrokonui do not have access to seabirds or tree wētā, and showed no certain predation on passerines or reptiles. Some differences in diet composition may reflect differences in prey availability resulting from the past presence of rodents at Ōrokonui.