Unique Galapagos Wildlife

Posted on Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Nowhere else in the world will you find some of these species of wildlife; friendly and inquisitive, the animals have a remarkable lack of fear and are unaffected by mankind.

Giant Tortoise:  The giant tortoise played a crucial role in Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.  Vegetarians, they are famed for their longevity – they can live over 100 years, and weigh about 500 pounds.

Marine Iguana:  The Galapagos Islands are the only place on earth where you will find a lizard that swims and hunts for food in the ocean.  Marine and land iguanas resemble creatures from the early Prehistoric Age.

Frigate Birds:  Stunt flyers with incredible eyesight, the adult male has the distinctive feature of a bright red pouch that majestically swells as it searches for just the right female – they are fascinating to watch.

Penguins:  The only penguins found north of the Equator, these flightless seabirds are highly amusing as they go about their day to day life.  They swim at speeds up to 24 mph!

Sally Lightfoot Crab:  Taking their unusual name from an ability to “skip” across the water, this colorful crustacean is but one of 100 species of crab that are found in the Galapagos Islands.

Sea Lion:  Playful and inquisitive, crowd-pleasing sea lions live in colonies along the beaches and rocky shorelines.  These frolicsome mammals are often spied romping with their young pups at sea and on land.