It seemed as though all concern was forgotten, replaced by the bright emotions of an inquisitive mind. He seemed disappointed though, to hear that Arorangi had not seen that particular animal.
"Oh... No, I've only seen pictures. They don't have them in many zoos, and I haven't ever been to a zoo either, but I really do want to see one!" Oliver's disappointment was short lived. "They are really fascinating, they look a lot like lizards but actually diverged from the lineage even before lizards and snakes became two separate suborders. Did you know, they actually have a third eye right on the top of their head? It ends up covered in scales and stuff, but I read it helps them judge lighting levels! Their skull is pretty amazing too, probably even more primitive than turtles, at least if scientists can prove that the turtles lost their temporal fenestrae rather than the tuatara gaining them..."
Oliver frowned. "Do you think... they have a portal near the San Diego zoo? I don't know much about days off, but...
I really want to see a tuatara someday..." The kid trailed off, as though realizing he had likely talked Arorangi's ears right off with some bizarre science babble. Not everyone was as interested in these things, even if they did happen to come from the same area as the tuatara...
