The '''Wildlife''' is the prime reason for visiting the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. The logistics of travelling to and around the islands as well as information on the islands is given in the Galapagos Islands article itself.

Understand

Lying 1000km west of Ecuador on the South American mainland, the volcanic Galapagos Islands' wildlife developed and remained relatively protected until the 1800s. '''Charles Darwin''' visited the islands in 1835 and his studies here helped form his '''Theory of Evolution'''. Since then, although the influence of mankind has increased, the islands isolation has kept them remarkably unspoilt with some of the tamest wildlife you will ever encounter.

The National Park

The land of the islands was declared a National Park in 1959, and the surrounding seas a ''marine biosphere'' in 1986.

What to bring / hire

  • Binoculars
  • Snorkeling equipment
  • Camera
  • Seasickness pills
  • Reptiles

    Tortoises

    The '''Giant Tortoises''' (''Geocheleone elephantopus'') are justly the most famous residents of the islands, weighing up to 200kg and living for up to 150 years. Each island with tortoises tends to have it's own sub-species (but with five on Isabela) which have evolved separately. Of the 14 sub-species, three are extinct and one more will be when '''Lonesome George''' (from Pinta) dies. The tortoises are most easily seen at the Charles Darwin Research Centre on Santa Cruz., as well as in the interior of this island and on San Cristobal and Isabela.

    Iguanas

    The black '''Marine Iguana''' (''Amblyrhyynchus cristatus'') can be seen sunning themselves (often on top of each other) on rocks at the sea edge of most of the islands. The world's only seagoing lizard, it feeds on seaweed.

    The '''Galapagos Land Iguana''' (''Conolophus subscristatus'') are another dinosaur like reptile which lives on most of the main islands. A grey-yellow colour, the move slowly - be careful not to walk on them. They eat the pads of the prickly pear cactus

    The '''Santa Fe Land Iguana''' (''Conolophus pallidus'') lives only on Santa Fe and is slightly larger.

    Lizards

    The '''Lava Lizard''' (''Tropidurus'') scurries around the rocky ground of the islands. There are seven species, which similarly to the Giant Tortoises are endemic to different islands.

    Snakes

    Geckos

    Turtles

    Land Mammals

    Goats

    Rats

    Birds

    Albatrosses

    Boobies

    Masked Boobies

    Red-Footed Boobies

    Blue-Footed Boobies

    Cormorants

    Darwin Finches

    Egrets & Herons

    Flamingos

    Frigatebirds

    Hawks

    Mockingbirds

    Oystercatchers

    Pelicans

    Penguins

    Plovers

    Storm Petrels

    Tropicbirds

    Yellow Warblers

    Sea Mammals

    Sea Lions

    Fur Sea Lions

    Seals

    Whales

    Dolphins

    Fish

    Sharks

    Rays

    Anglefish

    Invertebrates

    Crabs

    Sea Urchins

    Sea Cucumbers

    Sea Anenomies

    Star Fish

    Plants

    Cacti

    Mangroves