Galápagos Marine Iguana

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

The Galápagos Marine Iguana is a unique lizard that can swim in the ocean. It has dark skin and spiky crests on its back. These iguanas love basking in the sun on rocky shores.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Galápagos Marine Iguana is a uniquely dark-colored lizard, often black or mottled grey, with some individuals displaying reddish or greenish hues during breeding. It has a prominent spiky dorsal crest, a blunt snout, and a flattened, paddle-like tail, making it visually distinct from land iguanas.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderLacertiliaFamilyIguanidaeGenusAmblyrhynchus

Galápagos Marine Iguana

Interesting facts

Male marine iguanas turn stunning shades of red and green during breeding season to attract mates.

Marine iguanas can shrink their own body length and bone size when food is scarce, then grow back!

Their unique, comb-like teeth are perfect for scraping tough algae off underwater volcanic rocks.

They often pile on top of each other in 'iguana pyramids' to share warmth from the sun after swimming.

Special abilities

Galápagos Marine Iguana has special nasal glands that help them filter and expel excess salt, allowing them to drink seawater.

Galápagos Marine Iguana can dive deep to scrape algae because of its sharp, serrated teeth and flattened tail for propulsion.

Galápagos Marine Iguana has very dark skin that helps them absorb maximum heat from the sun after cold dives.

Galápagos Marine Iguana has powerful claws that help them cling to slippery rocks, even in strong ocean currents.

Measurements & details

Length: 50-130 cm
Weight: 0.5-10 kg
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Top Speed: 12 km/h
Swim Speed: 15 km/h
Clutch Size: 1-4
Incubation: 90-120 days
Maximum Depth: 15 m

Diet & Feeding

They are vegetarians of the sea, primarily munching on algae scraped from underwater rocks.

Primary Foods

red algae
green algae
seaweed

Foraging Method

Grazing

Ecological connections

eaten by

Galápagos Hawk

Buteo galapagoensis

Hunts adults and juveniles.

eaten by

Lava Heron

Butorides sundevalli

Preys on hatchlings and small juveniles.

eaten by

Domestic Cat

Felis catus

Introduced predator hunting juveniles.

Traits

Wildlife

Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Thermoregulating

Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment.

Volcanic

This habitat trait describes species found in volcanic regions, including areas with recent lava flows, volcanic ash, or on volcanic islands, often characterized by unique soil compositions.