Native Fauna
Seal Lions | Tortoises | Iguanas | Boobies and Finches | Marine Life
Sea Lions
The 'Unofficial Welcoming Committee' of the Galapagos Islands is the Sea Lion. Their playful inquisitive nature, speed, agility on land, and bark quickly make them an island favorite. Sea Lions live in large Colonies. Adult males known as Bulls are the head of the Colony. Bulls grow to be up to 7 ft (2 m) in length and 800 lbs (363 kg). As males grow larger they fight to win dominance and for a territory including a Harem of between 5 and 25 Cows. Dominant Bulls will fight off any intruders entering the territory.
Tortoises
The most recognized symbol of the Galapagos is the Tortoise. The islands common name is Spanish for saddle; referring to the shape of the Galapagos Tortoise Shell. With weights over 500 lbs (250 kg) and shells measuring 59 inches (150 cm) Galapagos Tortoises are among the largest on earth. These land-based turtles are slow moving and known for their long life span of more than 150 years. They eat grass and cactus fruit, flowers and stems. Soon after the rainy season the tortoises descend the mountain slopes to feed on the grass covered flats. After that grass withers during the dry season they climb the mountain to feed on grasses of the moist meadows.
Iguanas
Iguana is the common name for a large "New World" lizard. "Iguana" a Spanish word of Indian origin also serves as the scientific name for the family. Iguanas are diurnal. They have distinctive eyelids, external eardrums, dewlaps (throat pouches), each limb has 5 toes with sharp claws allowing them to climb. Unlike most lizards, Iguanas are vegetarians. The black rocks under the equatorial sun provide needed warmth for the iguanas. On a warm day these rocks can heat up to deadly temperatures. Yet, territorial male Marine Iguanas, remain in the sun during the day. Cooled by a circulatory heat shunt carrying heat from the back to their bellies where the sea breezes coming off the cool ocean waters can cool them by convection. At night the iguanas pile by the hundred in order to provide heat for one another.
Boobies and Finches
Boobies received their name by allowing them to be captured while asleep. Boobies are a part of the Sulidae family made up of ten species of long-winged sea birds the size of geese. Their feet are completely webbed including hind toes, not free as in a duck. Boobies live near tropical and subtropical islands around the world, coming ashore only to breed. At sea they can be seen diving from the sky to catch fish. The Galapagos is home to three varieties of booby the Blue-Footed, Red-Footed and Masked Boobies.
All of Darwin's Finches are sparrow sized and similar in appearance with gray, brown, black or olive feathers. They have short rounded wings and a rounded tail that often appears cocked to one side. Most male finch mature to a solid black color, while the females mature to a drab grayish color. Exceptions are made for the Vegetarian and Tree Finches the males never become completely black rather they have a black head, neck and upper breast. Warbler, Woodpecker and Mangrove Finches have more of an olive color.
Marine Life
The combination of warm tropical waters and the upwelling nutrient rich cool Humboldt waters allows the Galapagos Islands to support a wide array of marine life. These waters are home to sharks, sea turtles, sea lions, and 306 varieties of fish, 25% of these fish are endemic. There are few coral reefs in these waters, instead the crevasses in the lava provides the function of a reef in other environments. Smaller fish live protected within the crevasses coming out to feed, and invertebrates make their home in the lava. The marine food chain and life is established around the lava as larger fish live near the lava area where they feed on the smaller fish.
Seal Lions | Tortoises | Iguanas | Boobies and Finches | Marine Life