Nathan Aguirre

9/23/2019

On the Galapagos islands lives a Marine Iguana that is well suited to live in both land and

water. The Galapagos has 20 islands (7 Small Islands, 13 Main Islands) and each island is

breathtaking. The names of these Islands are Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela , Baltra,

Floreana, Fernandina (A volcano!), Bartolomé, Española, Genovesa(also a volcano!), North

Seymour, Rábida, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Pinta, Pinzón, Marchena, Daphne, and Brattlem. Four

other islands have volcanoes Such as Volcán Wolf, Sierra Negra, La Cumbre, and Daphne

Major. The young marine Iguanas that live on these Islands are black, while adults colors are or

can be different depending on the island. On the island Espanol the marine iguana have the are

the most colorful earning the name Christmas tree.

The marine Iguana has been known to live on the Islands of Española,Floreana, and Santa

Cruz. But they can swim anywhere on the Galapagos Islands. But if on different Islands the

Marine Iguanas can change colors. They mostly hang around the Beach because they are fine

runners and if threatened they will run to the Ocean and swim away. They dig their eggs

underground and when they hatch they have to dig out and run to Ocean and Avoid Sea snakes.

Or be killed. They are able to swim at start of birth but stay close to shallow in case of losing

energy to fast.

The animals adaptations are what helps it survive. These are some examples of these

adaptations. The marine Iguana has a short blunt nose good for eating algae off of rock. If they

did not have these animals would struggle with eating. They have a flattened tail to help swim

quickly. Without these hawks and owls can easily get the Iguana. They also have a special glace

connected to the nostril. Then they sneeze out the salt. These animals were supposed to evolve
from land Iguanas. And that they were brought to the Islands.And had to adapt to sea life to

survive.

The marine Iguana is Vulnerable to extinction. The animal is endangered because of El

Ninos they have been known to kill of 70% of the population.Why, well it takes away most of

the algae that they ONLY eat. But they are able to make themselves skinnier to survive. The

Iguana has no natural predators at adulthood but, when they are Juvenile they are killed by many

types of birds eat them.And these eggs are in danger too, because of this there is estimated at

about 200,000 and 300,000 left in the animal kingdom.

The marine Iguana is a unique animal. They have certain adaptations that help them

thrive in the animal kingdom. But these animals have many predators. And one of them can kill

of 70% of the population. They are only found on these islands. The Marine iguana lives only at

the Galapagos Island, they are at risk of extinction. So what do you do to help these unique

animals?