Endemic Encounters Galapagos

The Galapagos land iguana (Conolophus subcristatus) is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae and one of three species in the genus Conolophus. It is endemic to the Galapagos Islands, mainly the islands of Fernandina, Isabela, Santa Cuz Island, North Seymour Española and South Plaza.
The Galapagos land iguana varies in morphology and coloration among the different island populations. There are two taxonomically distinct forms of Conolophus inhabiting the western part of the islands (C. rosada and C. pallidus) and one in the central part (C. subcristatus).
The Galapagos land iguana grows to a length of three to five feet (approx. 90 cm - 120 cm) with a body weight of up to twenty-five pounds (approx. 12 kg), depending on the island they come from. Being cold-blooded, they absorb the sun's heat by basking on volcanic rocks and at night they sleep in burrows to conserve body heat. These iguanas also enjoy a symbiotic relationship with birds; the birds remove parasites and ticks, providing relief for the iguanas and food for the birds. The Galapagos land iguana is estimated to have a lifespan of 50 to 60 years.

The Galapagos sea lion (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) breeds in the Galapagos Islands in the eastern Pacific, west of mainland Ecuador, and is endemic to the islands. The sea lions live on the rocky shores of the islands, which tend to be on the western side of the islands, and haul out only to feed. These seals do not migrate and remain close to the islands for their entire lives, which average about 20 years. Galapagos fur seals feed mainly on fish and mollusks. They feed relatively close to shore and near the surface, but have been seen at depths of 169 meters. They feed mainly at night because it is much easier to catch their prey.
It appears that the Galapagos fur seal is no longer found only in the Galapagos Islands, but that a colony has moved to northern Peru, according to Orca, Organization for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Animals.

The Galapagos Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas agassisi) is a subspecies of the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas). It is endemic to tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. They are often classified as an eastern Pacific population of green turtles. This title is shared with the other nesting populations of green sea turtles that inhabit the Pacific Ocean.
The Galapagos Green Turtle is the only population of Green Sea Turtles that nests on the beaches of the Galapagos Islands. It has been difficult for researchers to obtain valid information on the lifestyles of the Galapagos Green Sea Turtle due to its continuous migrations and submersion in the ocean; most information has been obtained through experimentation with tagging. The Galapagos Green Turtle, along with all other green sea turtle populations, is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The Galapagos Tortoise or Giant Galapagos Tortoise (Geochelone nigra) is the largest living tortoise, native to seven islands of the Galapagos archipelago. Adult adults can weigh more than 300 kilograms (661 pounds) and measure 1.2 meters (4 feet) long. They are long-lived, with an estimated life expectancy in the wild of between 100 and 150 years. Populations have declined drastically due to hunting and the introduction of predators and herbivores by humans since the 17th century. Today only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. However, conservation efforts since the establishment of the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation have been successful, and hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released on their home islands. They have become emblematic of the fauna of the Galapagos Islands.

The Lonesome George (Spanish: Solitario Jorge) is the last known individual of the Pinta Island tortoise (Geochelone nigra abingdoni), which is one of the subspecies of Galapagos tortoises. It has been labeled the rarest creature in the world and is a potent symbol of conservation efforts in the Galapagos and internationally.
George was first spotted on Pinta Island on December 1, 1971, by American biologist Joseph Vagvolgyi. The island's vegetation had been decimated by introduced feral goats and the native tortoise population had been reduced to a single individual. Relocated for his safety to the Charles Darwin Research Station, George was enclosed with two females of a different subspecies, but although eggs have been produced, so far none have hatched.

The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galapagos Islands that has the unique ability among modern lizards to live and feed in the sea. It has spread to all the islands of the archipelago and is sometimes called the Galapagos marine iguana. It lives mainly on the rocky coast of Galapagos, but can also be seen in swamps and mangrove beaches.
Marine iguanas feed almost exclusively on seaweed, expelling excess salt from their nasal glands as they bask in the sun, the salt layer can make their faces appear white. In adult males, coloration varies with the season. Adult males in breeding season on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and blue-green colors, while on Santa Cruz they are brick red and black, and on Fernandina, they are brick red and dull greenish.
Another difference between iguanas is size, which varies according to the island on which the individual iguana lives. Iguanas living on Fernandina and Isabela islands are the largest iguanas found in the Galapagos. On the other end of the spectrum, the smallest iguanas are found on the Genovesa Island.
Adult males are up to 1.7 m long, females between 0.6 and 1 m and males weigh up to 1.5 kg.
On land, the marine iguana is a rather clumsy animal, but in the water it is an elegant swimmer.

The reptile genus Tropidurus includes several species of terrestrial lizards. It includes seven that are endemic to the Galapagos Islands, where they are collectively known as lava lizards. The distribution of these lizards and their variations in shape, color, and behavior show the phenomenon of adaptive radiation so typical of the inhabitants of this archipelago. One species is found on all the central and western islands, which may have been connected during periods of lower sea levels. On six other, more peripheral islands, a single species is found on each island. Most likely they all evolved from a single ancestral species.
Males and females of all Tropidurus species are marked differently. The male is usually much larger than the female and its body has brighter colors and a distinctive pattern. The average size of lizards varies greatly from habitat to habitat, as does the pattern of body markings; animals living primarily in dark lava are darker than those living in lighter sandy environments. Markings vary considerably, even within species, and, like many lizards, show color changes with mood and temperature.

The Flightless Cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi), also known as the Galapagos cormorant, is a cormorant endemic to the Galapagos Islands and a good example of the very unusual fauna that exists there. It is unique because it is the only cormorant in the world that has lost the ability to fly. With only 1500 estimated individuals, it is one of the rarest birds in the world and is the subject of an active conservation program.
This unique cormorant is found on only two islands: Fernandina Island, where it is found mainly on the east coast, as well as on the north and west coasts of the Isabela Island. This species inhabits the rocky shores of the volcanic islands where it is found. It feeds in shallow coastal waters, including bays and straits, and rarely ventures more than one kilometer from breeding grounds.
Galapagos cormorants evolved in an island habitat free of predators. Having no enemies and obtaining its food mainly by diving along the food-rich coasts, the bird eventually stopped flying.
The flightless cormorant is the largest member of its family, 89 to 100 cm (35 to 40 inches) long and weighing 2.5 to 5.0 kg (5.5 to 11 pounds), and its wings are about one-third the size that would be needed for a bird of its proportions to fly. The keel of the sternum, where the birds attach the large muscles needed for flight, has also been considerably reduced.

The Darwin Finches (also known as Galapagos finches or Geospizinae) are a group of 14 species of passerine birds (including one species from Cocos Island), now sometimes placed in the tanager family rather than the true finch family. They were first collected by Charles Darwin in the Galapagos Islands during the second voyage of the Beagle. Charles Darwin studied and collected samples of flora and fauna. His observations of the diversity of species on the islands, especially of mockingbirds and finches, later became the basis for the elaboration of Thirteen species of Darwin's finches are found in the Galapagos Islands and one on Cocos Island. The term Darwin's finches was first applied by Percy Lowe in 1936 and popularized in 1947 by David Lack in his book Darwin's Finches. All birds are approximately the same size (10 to 20 cm). The most important differences between species are in the size and shape of their beaks, as beaks are highly adapted to different food sources.

The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galapagos Islands that has the unique ability among modern lizards to live and feed in the sea. It has spread to all the islands of the archipelago and is sometimes called the Galapagos marine iguana. It lives mainly on the rocky coast of Galapagos, but can also be seen in swamps and mangrove beaches.
Marine iguanas feed almost exclusively on seaweed, expelling excess salt from their nasal glands as they bask in the sun, the salt layer can make their faces appear white. In adult males, coloration varies with the season. Adult males in breeding season on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and blue-green colors, while on Santa Cruz they are brick red and black, and on Fernandina, they are brick red and dull greenish.
Another difference between iguanas is size, which varies according to the island on which the individual iguana lives. Iguanas living on Fernandina and Isabela islands are the largest iguanas found in the Galapagos. On the other end of the spectrum, the smallest iguanas are found on the Genovesa Island.
Adult males are up to 1.7 m long, females between 0.6 and 1 m and males weigh up to 1.5 kg.
On land, the marine iguana is a rather clumsy animal, but in the water it is an elegant swimmer.

The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galapagos Islands that has the unique ability among modern lizards to live and feed in the sea. It has spread to all the islands of the archipelago and is sometimes called the Galapagos marine iguana. It lives mainly on the rocky coast of Galapagos, but can also be seen in swamps and mangrove beaches.
Marine iguanas feed almost exclusively on seaweed, expelling excess salt from their nasal glands as they bask in the sun, the salt layer can make their faces appear white. In adult males, coloration varies with the season. Adult males in breeding season on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and blue-green colors, while on Santa Cruz they are brick red and black, and on Fernandina, they are brick red and dull greenish.
Another difference between iguanas is size, which varies according to the island on which the individual iguana lives. Iguanas living on Fernandina and Isabela islands are the largest iguanas found in the Galapagos. On the other end of the spectrum, the smallest iguanas are found on the Genovesa Island.
Adult males are up to 1.7 m long, females between 0.6 and 1 m and males weigh up to 1.5 kg.
On land, the marine iguana is a rather clumsy animal, but in the water it is an elegant swimmer.

The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galapagos Islands that has the unique ability among modern lizards to live and feed in the sea. It has spread to all the islands of the archipelago and is sometimes called the Galapagos marine iguana. It lives mainly on the rocky coast of Galapagos, but can also be seen in swamps and mangrove beaches.
Marine iguanas feed almost exclusively on seaweed, expelling excess salt from their nasal glands as they bask in the sun, the salt layer can make their faces appear white. In adult males, coloration varies with the season. Adult males in breeding season on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and blue-green colors, while on Santa Cruz they are brick red and black, and on Fernandina, they are brick red and dull greenish.
Another difference between iguanas is size, which varies according to the island on which the individual iguana lives. Iguanas living on Fernandina and Isabela islands are the largest iguanas found in the Galapagos. On the other end of the spectrum, the smallest iguanas are found on the Genovesa Island.
Adult males are up to 1.7 m long, females between 0.6 and 1 m and males weigh up to 1.5 kg.
On land, the marine iguana is a rather clumsy animal, but in the water it is an elegant swimmer.

The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galapagos Islands that has the unique ability among modern lizards to live and feed in the sea. It has spread to all the islands of the archipelago and is sometimes called the Galapagos marine iguana. It lives mainly on the rocky coast of Galapagos, but can also be seen in swamps and mangrove beaches.
Marine iguanas feed almost exclusively on seaweed, expelling excess salt from their nasal glands as they bask in the sun, the salt layer can make their faces appear white. In adult males, coloration varies with the season. Adult males in breeding season on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and blue-green colors, while on Santa Cruz they are brick red and black, and on Fernandina, they are brick red and dull greenish.
Another difference between iguanas is size, which varies according to the island on which the individual iguana lives. Iguanas living on Fernandina and Isabela islands are the largest iguanas found in the Galapagos. On the other end of the spectrum, the smallest iguanas are found on the Genovesa Island.
Adult males are up to 1.7 m long, females between 0.6 and 1 m and males weigh up to 1.5 kg.
On land, the marine iguana is a rather clumsy animal, but in the water it is an elegant swimmer.

The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galapagos Islands that has the unique ability among modern lizards to live and feed in the sea. It has spread to all the islands of the archipelago and is sometimes called the Galapagos marine iguana. It lives mainly on the rocky coast of Galapagos, but can also be seen in swamps and mangrove beaches.
Marine iguanas feed almost exclusively on seaweed, expelling excess salt from their nasal glands as they bask in the sun, the salt layer can make their faces appear white. In adult males, coloration varies with the season. Adult males in breeding season on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and blue-green colors, while on Santa Cruz they are brick red and black, and on Fernandina, they are brick red and dull greenish.
Another difference between iguanas is size, which varies according to the island on which the individual iguana lives. Iguanas living on Fernandina and Isabela islands are the largest iguanas found in the Galapagos. On the other end of the spectrum, the smallest iguanas are found on the Genovesa Island.
Adult males are up to 1.7 m long, females between 0.6 and 1 m and males weigh up to 1.5 kg.
On land, the marine iguana is a rather clumsy animal, but in the water it is an elegant swimmer.

The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galapagos Islands that has the unique ability among modern lizards to live and feed in the sea. It has spread to all the islands of the archipelago and is sometimes called the Galapagos marine iguana. It lives mainly on the rocky coast of Galapagos, but can also be seen in swamps and mangrove beaches.
Marine iguanas feed almost exclusively on seaweed, expelling excess salt from their nasal glands as they bask in the sun, the salt layer can make their faces appear white. In adult males, coloration varies with the season. Adult males in breeding season on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and blue-green colors, while on Santa Cruz they are brick red and black, and on Fernandina, they are brick red and dull greenish.
Another difference between iguanas is size, which varies according to the island on which the individual iguana lives. Iguanas living on Fernandina and Isabela islands are the largest iguanas found in the Galapagos. On the other end of the spectrum, the smallest iguanas are found on the Genovesa Island.
Adult males are up to 1.7 m long, females between 0.6 and 1 m and males weigh up to 1.5 kg.
On land, the marine iguana is a rather clumsy animal, but in the water it is an elegant swimmer.

The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galapagos Islands that has the unique ability among modern lizards to live and feed in the sea. It has spread to all the islands of the archipelago and is sometimes called the Galapagos marine iguana. It lives mainly on the rocky coast of Galapagos, but can also be seen in swamps and mangrove beaches.
Marine iguanas feed almost exclusively on seaweed, expelling excess salt from their nasal glands as they bask in the sun, the salt layer can make their faces appear white. In adult males, coloration varies with the season. Adult males in breeding season on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and blue-green colors, while on Santa Cruz they are brick red and black, and on Fernandina, they are brick red and dull greenish.
Another difference between iguanas is size, which varies according to the island on which the individual iguana lives. Iguanas living on Fernandina and Isabela islands are the largest iguanas found in the Galapagos. On the other end of the spectrum, the smallest iguanas are found on the Genovesa Island.
Adult males are up to 1.7 m long, females between 0.6 and 1 m and males weigh up to 1.5 kg.
On land, the marine iguana is a rather clumsy animal, but in the water it is an elegant swimmer.

The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galapagos Islands that has the unique ability among modern lizards to live and feed in the sea. It has spread to all the islands of the archipelago and is sometimes called the Galapagos marine iguana. It lives mainly on the rocky coast of Galapagos, but can also be seen in swamps and mangrove beaches.
Marine iguanas feed almost exclusively on seaweed, expelling excess salt from their nasal glands as they bask in the sun, the salt layer can make their faces appear white. In adult males, coloration varies with the season. Adult males in breeding season on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and blue-green colors, while on Santa Cruz they are brick red and black, and on Fernandina, they are brick red and dull greenish.
Another difference between iguanas is size, which varies according to the island on which the individual iguana lives. Iguanas living on Fernandina and Isabela islands are the largest iguanas found in the Galapagos. On the other end of the spectrum, the smallest iguanas are found on the Genovesa Island.
Adult males are up to 1.7 m long, females between 0.6 and 1 m and males weigh up to 1.5 kg.
On land, the marine iguana is a rather clumsy animal, but in the water it is an elegant swimmer.