<figure class="fr-image-container fr-full"><img srcset="https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/29200/henry-s.webp 480w, https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/29200/henry-m.webp 660w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 480px, 660px" src="https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/29200/henry-s.jpg" title="henry.jpg" loading="lazy" data-id="29200"><figcaption class="fr-figcaption"><p class="fr-caption"></p></figcaption></figure><p>The tumor on his genitals had made Henry into an old grouch. At his new home in the <a href="http://www.southlandmuseum.com/tuatara.html" title="">Southland Museum and Art Galler</a>y, he was aggressive and unpopular with the ladies. Sure, Henry was already in his 70s—but in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatara" title="">tuatara </a>years, he was still in his prime. Tuataras, a lizard-like reptile belonging to an ancient lineage that has changed little since the time of the dinosaurs, are known for their longevity. They don't reach sexual maturity until age 20 and many have been known to live past 100. Henry's fortunes reversed in 2002, when at the age of 105, he <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iylFiXs49ExQLTfL1yWtPT66o4NwD95UQM0O0" title="">underwent an operation</a> to remove his inconvenient (and cancerous) tumor. Since then, his human caretakers say he has regained a vigor that belies his age. Whereas before the operation, Henry was often kept in solitary confinement due to his foul temper, now he is kept in the company of three female tauturas. Even so, museum keepers were surprised when Henry recently became a father at the age of 111, after a romantic romp with an 80-year-old female named Mildred. Henry and Mildred's 11 offspring hatched today, adding a welcome boost to the 72 tautaras kept at the museum. Taurtaras are an endangered species, and the estimated 50,000 left in the world are found mostly in protected areas in New Zealand. Henry's keepers are hopeful that he will continue to be an active member of the museum's breeding program. Now if only Henry would give some tips to <a href="/planet-earth/lonesome-george-the-worlds-rarest-tortoise-isnt-ready-to-be-a-dad" title="">Lonesome George</a>.... Related Content: 80beats: <a href="/planet-earth/lonesome-george-the-worlds-rarest-tortoise-isnt-ready-to-be-a-dad" title="">Lonesome George, the World's Rarest Tortoise, Isn't Ready to be a Dad</a> Discoblog: <a href="/planet-earth/all-the-last-gorilla-in-india-wants-is-a-date" title="">All the Last Gorilla in India Wants is a Date</a> Discoblog: <a href="/planet-earth/internet-dating-a-new-option-for-zoo-animals" title="">Internet Dating a New Option for Zoo Animals</a></p><div class="vert-display-toggle collapsible relative flex flex-col items-center "><div class="vert-unit mt-4 mb-3 top-20"><div ad-type="mobile-desktop" class="ad-wrapper vert min-h-boombox flex items-start justify-center" data-ad-mapping="inline" data-ad-slot="Discover/inline-ad" id="div-inline-ad-0"></div></div><span aria-label="Advertisement" class="text-ad mt-1 text-[11px] uppercase">Advertisement</span></div><p><em>Image: Wikimedia Commons / </em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_at_Invercargill.jpg" title="">KeresH </a></p>

Meet Henry the tuatara, a rare reptile who became a father at 111, benefiting the endangered species breeding program.

Planet Earth

111-Year-Old Reptile Becomes a Dad After Tumor Surgery

Article

News

Nina Bai

Science

The tumor on his genitals had made Henry into an old grouch. At his new home in the Southland Museum and Art Gallery, he was aggressive and unpopular with the ladies. Sure, Henry was already in his 70s—but in tuatara years, he was still in his prime. Tuataras, a lizard-like reptile belonging to an ancient lineage that has changed little since the time of the dinosaurs, are known for their longevity. They don't reach sexual maturity until age 20 and many have been known to live past 100. Henry's fortunes reversed in 2002, when at the age of 105, he underwent an operation to remove his inconvenient (and cancerous) tumor. Since then, his human caretakers say he has regained a vigor that belies his age. Whereas before the operation, Henry was often kept in solitary confinement due to his foul temper, now he is kept in the company of three female tauturas. Even so, museum keepers were surprised when Henry recently became a father at the age of 111, after a romantic romp with an 80-year-old female named Mildred. Henry and Mildred's 11 offspring hatched today, adding a welcome boost to the 72 tautaras kept at the museum. Taurtaras are an endangered species, and the estimated 50,000 left in the world are found mostly in protected areas in New Zealand. Henry's keepers are hopeful that he will continue to be an active member of the museum's breeding program. Now if only Henry would give some tips to Lonesome George.... Related Content: 80beats: Lonesome George, the World's Rarest Tortoise, Isn't Ready to be a Dad Discoblog: All the Last Gorilla in India Wants is a Date Discoblog: Internet Dating a New Option for Zoo Animals Image: Wikimedia Commons / KeresH

Discover Magazine’s award-winning journalism inspires and informs, delivering thought-provoking content that sparks meaningful conversations. With a focus on groundbreaking developments in science, technology, and the world around us, Discover highlights the impact of these innovations on our daily lives.

111岁爬行动物在肿瘤手术后成为父亲

新闻简报

Nina Bai

三种新发现的蟾蜍以奇异的进化方式产下活体幼崽

弓头鲸可活到200岁，其DNA可能蕴含长寿的秘密

切尔诺贝利的狗神秘变蓝，但辐射并非罪魁祸首

深海发现食肉死亡球海绵及其他新物种

这些吸血鬼鹿拥有三英寸长的獠牙而非鹿角来抵御对手

吸血蜘蛛痴迷于人类血液，通过扑向蚊子来饱餐一顿

最稀有的海洋动物及其他6种神秘潜伏在深海的难以捉摸的生物

冰岛首次发现蚊子，可能与气候变化有关

这些蝙蝠在紫外光下会发出绿光，但原因仍然是个谜

不再是“料理鼠王”——芝加哥鼠洞实则被一只松鼠压扁

蝠鲼潜入近4000英尺深的海洋——不是为了觅食，而是为了寻找方向

鲸鱼和海豚为何会搁浅，痴呆症是罪魁祸首吗？

狗如何看世界？它们确实能看到颜色，但更关注我们

澳大利亚海岸附近发现新的深海灯笼鲨和一种珍珠白色的螃蟹

泰国发现新的科学怪人蜘蛛，一半雄性一半雌性

保持好奇

加入我们的列表

订阅杂志