The Galapagos Islands:
Evolution On Display

These islands are a province of Ecuador. The Ecuadorian government technically restricts access to the islands so that if you want to get there as a tourist you should go through a registered agent. That said, there are numerous operators who visit the islands without any permits.

Because the islands are so small and many of the species are native to only one island, a high proportion (at least 60%) of vertebrate species are already endangered. Conservation efforts are of course being made, but the local authorities are unable to keep up with the arrival of new species from unregulated air and sea vessels arriving daily.

Galapagos Reptiles

The islands are home to an amazing array of unique species of birds, mammals, reptiles and plants. The best known of these would easily be the giant saddlebacked tortoises, with the marine iguanas coming a close second. Let's have a look at at these and some other less famous reptiles from this evolutionary cauldron.

Giant Tortoises

These docile creatures are the best known feature of the islands. Find out more about the different species of Galapagos tortoises and how the process of island gigantism made them so big.

Marine Iguanas

The Galapagos marine iguana is the only sea-going lizard alive. From the colour of their skin to the shape of their tails they are well adapted to survive where no other iguana can.

Land Iguanas

There are now three land iguana types in the Galapagos. The two yellow species are very separate from the pink iguana that lives only on the slope of one volcano on Isabela Island.

The Black Sea Turtle

The Black Sea Turtle also nests on the sandy beaches of the Galapagos. The status of this animal is debated, as many think of it as a subspecies of the Green Sea Turtle. It is not surprising that one of the rarest and most contested species of marine turtles should nest on the Galapagos' beaches.

Galapagos Snakes

Of all the wildlife on the Islands, the three species of Galapagos snakes are all small, fast and only slightly venomous to people. They feed on small reptiles and mammals, Lava Lizards, Grasshoppers, Geckos and Marine Iguana hatchlings. They have also been recorded taking Galapagos Finch nestlings for food.

These snakes are not the top of the food chain. They themselves are prey for the embattled Galapagos Hawk and also fall victim to introduced predators such as cats and dogs.

Galapagos Geckos

There are nine native species of Gecko on the Galapagos Islands. These unclaimed animals are also being pushed out of their native habitat by introduced species. In this case it is the introduced gecko Phyllodactylus reissi that is pushing the local species to the margin.

Lava Lizards

Lava lizards are the most abundant reptiles on the Galapagos Islands, though their small size often causes them to be overlooked. There are seven species distributed across the island chain.


Being A Tourist In Galapagos

There are many companies offering cruises or other tour packages to the islands. As mentioned previously, it's best to check whether the company you're looking at is a registered operator. Diving and walking tours are the most common. Some companies offer sport fishing in the area. This is illegal, but lack of effective law enforcement means that activities like this can go unchecked.

It's worth shopping around as the prices of the tours and the range of activities they offer vary greatly.