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Galapagos Wildlife
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Galapagos Wildlife cruise will become Educational Tour
when you visit this unique ecosystem.
The Islands have a wide array of endemic fauna,
invertebrates, birds, reptiles and a few mammals,
which are native to the islands.
Are you ready for your Galapagos expedition?
Galapagos wildlife include 560 native species of plants.
The unique species are:
CACTUS is the most common plant in Galapagos.
These succulents provide shade and food for
animals. There are several of them: Lava Cactus,
Candelabra Cactus, and Opuntia Cactus.
SCALESIA Trees (evergreen) have been endangered
by the guava plant, and also by pigs and goats
which feed on Scalesia.
MANGROVES are a unique part of the coastal habitat.
But this habitat is threatened by the shrimp
industry.
Other endemic species: giant FERNS and PISONIA TREE.
The GALAPAGOS HERBARIUM has been internationally recognized: it holds
over 22 thousands collections.
GALAPAGOS BIRDS
The Galapagos is home to more than 80 species and subspecies of birds.
Half of the nineteen species of birds residing in the Galapagos today are
endemic. Twenty five per cent can only be found on the islands: among
them the Galapagos Penguin, Waved Albatross, Lava Gull, the Swallow
Tailed Gull and Flightless Cormorant.
With mockingbirds, finches, flycatchers, hawks, tropicbirds, swallows,
gulls, terns, oystercatchers, flamingos, pelicans, and herons, this really is
a place for a dedicated bird watcher.
Sometimes as many as 750,000 seabirds are in one area at the same time.
Fernandina have the most
penguins, but sometimes
you might catch a glimpse
of a small colony at
Bartholomew.
These warm-climate
penguins are the smallest
of the South American penguins. They stay in temperate waters all year,
feeding on small tropical fish.
GALAPAGOS REPTILES
TORTOISES
The dome-shaped tortoises are found in the lush vegetation habitat on the
islands Isabela and Santa Cruz.
These herbivores like to eat grasses, and leaves of shrubs and Opuntia
cacti. They can survive for long periods of time on little food or water.
Male tortoises can grow to over 200 kg (400-500 pounds), and live one
and a half century. The shells of the tortoises come in two basic varieties,
dome-shaped and saddle-backed.
The Galapagos Tortoise is the most well known of all the endemic
creatures.
The late 20th century, has seen some recovery in populations of
endangered species:
IGUANAS
There include two endemic species:
-The Galapagos Land Iguana: vegetarian, feeding mostly on Opuntia
cactus. Land Iguanas are found in Las Plazas. They can be easily
approached and observed.
-The Galapagos Marine Iguana: these unusual creatures are the only
lizards in the world that live in the ocean. The lush seaweed is their food.
They inhabit the coastal rocks of Academy Bay on Santa Cruz Island.
The reptiles are able to withstand long periods without water.
MARINE MAMMALS
Galapagos Sea Lions stay for a long time in the cool water with lots of
fish.
Generally they feel comfortably with the presence of humans. They are
friendly until they “think” you want to have control of the beach.
So do not approach them too closely.
The young sea lions will readily follow the divers or snorkelers just because
they are just curious.
Galapagos Wildlife en francais
