Species of Galapagos: Unique Wildlife of the Enchanted Islands
Despite the isolated nature and relatively small land mass, the Galapagos Islands are home to many species. These islands led Charles Darwin to his theory of evolution because there were so many unusual endemic species that can only be found in the Galapagos. Each one displays a unique feature that shows that it has adapted to its environment. Reptiles include an assortment of iguanas, lizards and snakes plus the famous Giant Galapagos Tortoise. Birds include 13 distinct Finch species, a hawk, an albatross, a penguin and a flightless cormorant. The few mammals include rice rats, bats, and sea lions.
Galapagos Tortoise
The Spanish word for turtle is Galapagos, leading to the name of these islands which were once home to 250,000 of these long-living large reptiles. Today the population is stable at 15,000. The life span for this endemic species is said to reach 170 years. Without mammals as rivals, the Galapagos Tortoise is the largest herbivore in the Galapagos.
Pacific Green Turtle
The Pacific Green Turtle, a unique endemic species, makes its home in the waters around the islands. About 400 species of fish are also found only in the Galapagos waters.
Marine Iguana
Unlike its cousins the world over, the Marine Iguana goes swimming in the ocean. This creature is certainly one of the most uniquely adapted to its environment. Special glands expel salt from its body, allowing it to seek nutrition in the sea.
Land Iguanas
The Santa Fe land iguana and the Galapagos iguana were so plentiful in Darwin’s time that he complained that there were too many iguana nests on one island for him to set up camp there. Now their numbers have declined due mainly to introduced predators such as rats, cats, dogs and pigs. While some island populations are very small now, there are still 5,000 or more spread out in colonies on the various islands. Active efforts to enhance the population are ongoing with new colonies being introduced in areas that have been depopulated.
Lava Lizards
There are actually seven species of lava lizards known to inhabit the island. These small lizards have distinctive colors and traits that distinguish them from one another. Some exist only one one island, which adds to their evolutionary isolation. Colors include dark brown, dark red and black with yellow stripes. Males tend to be more brightly colored. If a predator grabs it by the tail, the Lava Lizard can disconnect and live to grow a new tail.
Galapagos Fur Seal
The Galapagos Fur Seal may be called a seal but it is actually a sea lion. With its small ears, the species is easily recognizable as a distinctly different breed. Its tendency to stay on land about 70 percent of the time is another unique trait, which perhaps is encouraged by the lack of predators on the islands.
Galapagos Sea Lion
Smaller than its better-known California cousin, the Galapagos Sea Lion behaves much like its kin. A strong swimmer, it spends much of its time in the water. Playful, they have been observed playing with each other, with penguins and with crabs. Males, which have a distinctive bump on their foreheads, are darker brown than the tan females.
Flightless Cormorant
This cormorant is rare among its species. The only one that cannot fly, it has grown larger than other cormorants. Flightless, it is particularly vulnerable to the island’s population of wild cats and dogs.
Finches
Some 13 distinct species of finches can be found on the islands. These are recognizable by their beaks which are different in both size and shape. Among the many species, one finds the warbler finch, the woodpecker finch, the large cactus finch, and the mangrove finch.
Penguins
The only penguin on the islands is a native. The Galapagos penguin is, in fact, the only penguin to live north of the Equator. It is one of the world’s smallest penguin species. Like others in its breed, it mates for life. In looks, it most closely resembles the Magellan penguin.
