noun
- Plural of hatteria; a genus of large, primitive lizards native to New Zealand, also called tuatara.
Usage: zoology; often capitalized as Hatteria when referring to the genus
Examples
- The hatterias are among the most ancient reptiles still living today.
- Scientists study hatterias to understand the evolution of early reptiles.
- Hatterias are found only on remote islands off the coast of New Zealand.
- The hatterias genus includes species that have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years.