The centenarian tuatara, named Henry, was thought well past the mating game until he was caught canoodling with a female named Mildred last March – which resulted in 11 babies being hatched on Monday.

Tuatara are endangered New Zealand creatures that resemble lizards but descend from a distinct lineage of reptile that walked the earth with the dinosaurs 225 million years ago.

The hatchlings, born at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery, will boost the tuatara's genetic diversity, said curator, Lindsay Hazley.

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