A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Opuntia echios var. barringtonensis
Taken at Dragon Hill (Cerro Dragon) on Santa Fe Island. This variation is only found on Santa Fe Island, and has evolved with long, sharp spines as a defense mechanism against land iguanas.
Opunti are widely distributed among the islands, with 6 species and 14 variations. This species was found near the shores, and continuing inland.
Species found in the Galápagos are endemic, with some variations endemic to individual islands.
Spotted on May 24, 2009
Submitted on Apr 2, 2011
No Comments