Tua is Davis Pickett Sr.'s female tuatara, a very primitive species of reptile. She's about 40 years old and is expected to live to at least 150 years old. She's also set to "inherit" Mr. Pickett's fortune upon his death, though the money will actually go to the foundation that cares for her. Davis is scared of Tua and resents her because his father favors her over his own children.
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Tua Character Timeline in Turtles All the Way Down
The timeline below shows where the character Tua appears in Turtles All the Way Down. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 4
...dome, which is climate-controlled and tropical inside. Malik locates the tuatara, a female reptile named Tua, and brings her to the girls. Daisy pets the tuatara, but Aza refuses. Malik explains...
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Chapter 5
...Mr. Pickett's fortune when he dies. Aza makes a few guesses and Daisy says that Tua the tuatara will inherit all of it, not Davis and Noah. Daisy reads a news...
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Chapter 12
...but Davis explains that his father doesn't believe in exercise because he truly believes that Tua will be the key to "curing death," and that's why he's leaving everything to her.
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Chapter 14
...Malik is looking through a microscope. He remains engrossed for a minute before explaining that Tua's blood doesn't last very long outside the body. He explains that tuatara have been around...
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Chapter 17
...Davis holds her in the water but doesn't try to kiss her. Aza notes that Tua is watching them, and Davis shudders and shares that he hates Tua. When they get...
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Chapter 22
...to tell Davis but not the police. She explains that if she tells the police, Tua will get the Pickett house and the money. Mom mumbles about "the madness of wealth"...
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