This dragon-like lizard looks like it comes from the age of dinosaurs! It is certainly is one of the most distinctive animals you will encounter on the Galápagos Islands. This is a marine iguana, the only lizard in the world, that is seagoing. It is, in any case, the only one of its kind in the world. So the only place to be able to see them, is on the Galápagos Islands. These islands are located some 1000 kilometers from the coast of Ecuador. The isolated location has given the islands' nature and wildlife a unique opportunity to develop without outside influence, like these igunanas. The photos were taken on the islands Fernandina, Isabela and Santa Cruz.
You will find the marine iguana on alle the islands, but they vary in zise, depending on which island they live on. The size can vary between 50 – 100 cm. Some of them are rather big. But they are vegetarians and slow-mooving. At least on land. Once in the water they proved to be good swimmers. Look at the claws! they are strong enough to enable them to cling to rocks and even trees.
A pile of black / dark grey iguanas are often seen piling up like on the photo. They stay close to stay warm. On the white sand they are visible, but on the black rocks you can easily trip over them.
This reptile is the only one that has turned to the sea. They live on algae. At low tide, they can easly just eats. But sometimes they have to dive to find food. They can dive down to 12 meters and stay there for up to an hour. When they come up to the surface, it makes a sound that sounds as a sneeze and water comes out in a long jet.
Through DNA analysis one has found out that the iguana can trace its lineage back at least eight million years. The Galápagos Islands are only about four million years old, so where they actually came from is not known. At least not yet.
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All the photoes are mine, Ulla Jensen (flickr, Instagram and facebook)
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