Details
Amblyrhynchus cristatus
The marine iguana is a seagoing iguana of Neotropical Pacific rocky shores. Diurnal and mostly solitary while feeding, it is specialized for eating algae.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses rocky Galapagos coasts, intertidal zones, and shallow coastal water. Dark lava rocks for basking and algae-rich shores are essential.
Length is about 60-130 cm and weight about 500-1500 g. A flattened tail, short snout, dorsal spines, and dark heat-absorbing body are typical.
It warms by basking, enters the sea to feed, then returns to rocks to restore body temperature. Resting groups form, but foraging is largely solitary.
It is herbivorous, feeding mainly on marine algae. The short mouth scrapes algae from rocks, and nasal glands expel excess salt.
In breeding season males display territories, and females dig nests in sand or soil. Young grow along the coast.
Its status is listed as Vulnerable. Its restricted range makes it sensitive to ocean-temperature shifts, changes in algae, and introduced animals.
