To the untrained eye, the New Zealand-native Tuatara might look like an oversized lizard, but that's a major understatement for this extraordinary creature. This living fossil's lineage diverged from lizards over 250 million years ago, predating <i>and</i> outliving the dinosaurs.

How? Maybe this reptile possesses the power of foresight - it does, after all, have a hidden third eye in its skull. Or maybe it has to do with its unique teeth that grow straight from the jaw, forming a scissor-like mechanism ideal for crunching just about anything. When food is scarce, it can also slow its metabolism down to survive 12 months without eating.

A primitive survival kit wrapped in scales, the Tuatara has a look in its eye that seems to say: "Call me a lizard again, bro. I dare you."