By Ecoventura,
about.com
about.com
Every trip through the Galapagos Islands is different, depending on routes and seasons, but there is no shortage of amazing wildlife to see throughout the year.
[post_ads_2]
Below
are ten amazing animals that you can encounter on an adventure in
the islands. Some of these animals you will see as you take a guided
nature walk, some you can spot from the deck of your ship and for
others, you’ll need to grab a snorkel and mask.
1. Galapagos Penguin
You
can spot penguins throughout the islands, but the majority of the
penguins are found on Fernandina and Isabela Islands to the West. The
Galapagos penguins are the rarest of all penguin species and feed on the
small fish near the shoreline. These unique animals are fun to snorkel
with or to watch preening on nearby rocks.
2. Giant Galapagos Tortoise
The
Giant Tortoise is the largest living species of tortoise and an iconic
symbol of the Galapagos. With a lifespan of on average 100 years, these
are also the longest living animals.They are herbivores, eating mainly cactus pads, grasses and fruits.
3. Sea Lion
The
sea lion is the most common mammal in the Galapagos and snorkeling with
them is the highlight for many visitors. They are curious animals, so
as you float by they will come inches away from your snorkel mask, blow
bubbles in your face and joyfully do somersaults around you.
4. Marine Iguana[post_ads_2]
These
iguanas are the world’s only oceangoing lizard and it’s fascinating to
see iguanas, typically land animals, be great swimmers underwater. As
you snorkel, you can watch them feed off of the algae and effortlessly
dive up to 90 feet deep. Also, marine iguanas have long, sharp claws
that give them the ability to hold onto rocks along the shore without
being pulled away by the waves. They are unable to digest the salt
water so they have developed glands that remove the salt through a
shooting spray that usually lands on their heads.
5. Sea Turtle
You
will find the Galapagos Sea Turtle, an endangered species, slowly
swimming around seaweed beds, enjoying the sea grass and algae. They
spend their time mainly in the water, but come on land to lay their
eggs. The Galapagos National Park closes sections of the beach during
nesting season for these animals so the tourists do not disturb the
area.
6. Flightless Cormorant
Over time, the
Galapagos Flightless Cormorants adapted to the terrain and instead of
flying, became efficient swimmers. These cormorants have dense body
feathers to protect their bodies from the water and to improve buoyancy.
Since they don’t need to go far for their food and have no natural
land-based predators, they were able to adapt to hunt for their food by
propelling through the water by quickly kicking their legs.
7. Blue-Footed Boobies
Blue
Footed Boobies are known for their courtship display where the birds
lift their feet and wave them in the air making them appear to be
dancing around each other. The name “booby” comes from the Spanish word
bobo, which means “clown” or “fool”. The blue feet of the Blue Footed
Booby can be used to cover its chicks and keep them warm.
8. Whale Shark
Whale
sharks are the largest fish and shark in the world with a mouth opening
of five feet wide. They are gentle giants that feed on plankton and
usually travel alone, but they are known to congregate in large groups
near areas where there is a high amount of plankton available. Between
June and September whale sharks are usually seen near Darwin Island and
Wolf Island.
9. Leatherback Turtle
Leatherback
turtles are the largest sea turtle and one of the most migratory,
crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They consume large
numbers of jellyfish that help to keep populations of these organisms in
control. Leatherbacks can dive to depths of 4,200 feet, deeper than any
other turtle, and can stay down for up to 85 minutes.
10. Darwin’s Finches
Darwin’s
Finches refers to 15 different species of small birds, each displaying a
similar body type and similar coloring, but with markedly different
beaks. Each species has a different size and shape beak, as they are
highly adapted to different food sources. The birds vary in size with
the smallest being the warbler-finches and the largest the vegetarian
finch.
