For nearly 30 years (barely a third of the potential lifespan of a tuatara) she has researched the biology of this distinctive New Zealand reptile and contributed to its conservation management. An author of more than 100 scientific publications, Alison has also studied the biology of New Zealand lizards and frogs. In this book she brings her personal experience of tuatara on more than 14 islands, in ecosanctuaries and in captivity, to this wide-ranging overview.