Tuatara

The Tuatara has been visualised using thermal infrared which allows us to see thermal energy or radiation more commonly referred to as heat. Thermal Infrared is found within the Infrared region on the electromagnetic spectrum. The different colours in the images represent different levels of thermal energy being emitted from an object. The imaging technology has been successfully used in animal studies to observe thermoregulation, their environment and behaviour, their population and habitat. The Tuatara is a reptile thought to have pre-dated the dinosaurs, the Tuatara in this image was resident at Chester zoo, UK, where in 2016 they reportedly bred the first Tuatara outside of its native New Zealand. The species is said to be extinct in all other places in the world. Reptiles are ectothermic or cold blooded changing temperature in reaction to their surroundings.