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Project Noah Nature School
Amblyrhynchus cristatus nanus
The marine iguana is an iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands that has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to live and forage in the sea, making it a marine reptile. The iguana can dive over 30 ft (10 m) into the water. It has spread to all the islands in the archipelago, and is sometimes called the Galápagos marine iguana. There are 7 sub-species.
Isla Genovesa, Galapagos
Spotted on Nov 24, 2012
Submitted on Dec 18, 2012
2 Comments
Thanks for your kind words patty! They dive to feed on the algae - probably an adaption necessitated by a lack of terrestrial plants when they first arrived on the Galapagos.
Interesting fact and spotting Karen. Do you happen to know if they dive with a purpose?
I think one of your galapagos spottings should deserve a spotting of the day =)