Creatures of the Galápagos

Marine Iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus

to view galleries with more photos, click here

In November 2008 I led a dive group to the Galápagos Islands, 563 miles west of continental Ecuador. At that time dive tour boats could allow their guests to land on some islands to see the land fauna. As a result we saw some of the iconic creatures of these volcanic islands which were made famous by Charles Darwin’s visit on HMS Beagle in 1835. The specimens of finches and giant tortoises collected from different islands contributed to Darwin’s theory of evolution. I had always wanted to visit this amazing place since being given a Life magazine devoted to the Galapagos when I was a kid. The marine life will feature in a future blog.

Blue-footed Booby, Sula nebouxii

Blue-footed Boobies

Blue-footed Booby

watching the Blue-footed Boobies

Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican and Galápagos Sea Lion

Brown Pelicans and a Frigatebird looking to pinch the catch

Frigatebird, Fregata species

Frigatebird chick

Frigatebird

Frigatebird

Galápagos Giant Tortoise, Chelonoidis nigra
at the Giant tortoise Reserve

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

Galápagos Land Iguana, Conolophus subcristatus

Galápagos Land Iguana

Galápagos Lava Lizard, Microlophus albemarlensis

Galápagos Penguin, Spheniscus mendiculus

Galápagos Penguin

Galápagos Penguins

Galápagos Penguins

Galápagos Sea Lion, Zalophus wollebaeki

Galápagos Sea Lion

Galápagos Sea Lion

Galápagos Sea Lion pup suckling

Galápagos Sea Lion pup

Galápagos Sea Lion

Galápagos Sea Lion

Galápagos Sea Lion

Large Painted Locust, Schistocerca melanocera

Marine Iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus

Marine Iguana

Marine Iguana

Marine Iguana

Marine Iguana

Marine Iguana

Nazca Booby, Sula granti

Sally Lightfoot Crab, Grapsus grapsus

Sally Lightfoot Crab

Storm Petrel

Yellow Warbler, Setophaga petechia

Mainland Ecuador:

American Flamingos, Phoenicopterus ruber at Zoo el Pantanal

Green Iguana, Iguana iguana
in Parque de las Iguanas in Guayagil

Green Iguana