THERE ARE TWO WAYS THAT ANIMALS originally arrived in the Galapagos—a sea voyage or via the friendly skies. Blown offshore by winds, birds—just like seeds—eventually reached the islands. Animals that are strong swimmers like sea lions, fur seals, sea turtles and penguins probably swam, aided by one of the three strong currents—Cromwell, Panama and Humboldt—that converge in the islands.
Convergence of three ocean currents
Land-based animals probably floated to the Galapagos on rafts of vegetation. Only the hardiest could survive for long at sea which is why there are so many reptiles, no amphibians and only one endemic land mammal, the rice rat, on the Galapagos. But there are four species of Iguanas and seven species of Lava Lizards.
Yellow Land Iguana
Pale Land Iguana
Marine Iguanas warming up
Sally Lightfoot Crab cleaning parasites from a Marine Iguana
At first glance you might think the Marine Iguana used its strong tail to swim from the mainland to the islands but it evolved from land iguanas on the Galapagos. The Marine Iguana is the only lizard in the world adapted to feeding in the sea. They are nearly black, enabling them to warm up after long periods feeding underwater on algae while the coloration of the Pale Land Iguana and Yellow Land Iguana protects them from the harsh sunlight on land.
Curious Sea Lion
Young Fur Seal
Galapagos Penguins
As successful as reptiles are on the Galapagos, it’s the sea lions and fur seals and penguins that make visitors smile. Our group spent a couple of hours each day snorkeling among them, definitely the highlight of their trip. We must be getting old—been there, done that.
