Galapagos Islands
Galapagos reptiles
The reptiles are easily approached and observed in Galapagos. Over two dozen species belonging to five families haven recorded and most of them are endemic.
Reptiles commonly found in the Galapagos include: The Giant tortoise, Pacific Green Sea turtles, marine iguanas, Galapagos land iguanas, lava lizards and snakes.
Giant tortoises: The most famous reptiles is the giant tortoise or Galapago, for which the islands are named This species has benn divided into 14 subspecies, three of wich are extinct. The differences in the subspecies' caparaces contributed to Darwin's development of his Theory of Evolution.
Pacific Green Sea Turtle: It is a resident breeder. Adults are huge and can reach 150Kg. Snorkelers sometimes see them flapping serenely by underwater, a truly emotional sight. December and June though, the turtles spend laying eggs on the beaches, at which point the baby tortoises are left to hatch and fend for themselves.
Marine iguanas: The marine iguana is the only seagoing lizard in the world and is found in the rocky shores of most islands. It has blackish skin, which in males ca change to starling blues and reds during the breeding season.
Galapagos land iguanas: Land iguanas outsize marine iguanas and are colored in shades of yellow. Both species share an appetite for the prickly-pear cactus, but the land iguanas live more inland than their shore-loving cousins. This iguanas are found in Isabela, Santa Cruz, Fernandida, Seymour and most of all in South Plaza Island. The Santa Fe land iguana are similar in appearance, although the Santa Fe iguana is found only on that island.
Lava Lizards: The lava lizards are frequently seem scurrying across rocks throughout the islands. There are seven species of lava lizards, all of which are endemic. Nine species of Geckos also survive on the islands.
Snakes: Snakes on the island include the Galapagos snake , as well as three species of the Alsphis family and another species known as Philodrys biserialis. The snakes are small, drab and nonpisonous. continues...
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Galapagos wildlife, mammals
There are few mammals in Galapagos because if the difficulty of surviving...
