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253 Featured Specimen
Marine iguana

Details

Marine iguana

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

Size
0.6–1.3 m · 0.5–1.5 kg
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Diurnal
Sociality
Solitary
Lifespan
10-40 years

The marine iguana is a seagoing iguana of Neotropical Pacific rocky shores. Diurnal and mostly solitary while feeding, it is specialized for eating algae.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient
Pacific OceanPacific OceanPacific OceanNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropical

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It uses rocky Galapagos coasts, intertidal zones, and shallow coastal water. Dark lava rocks for basking and algae-rich shores are essential.

Appearance

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.

Behavior

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.

Feeding

It is herbivorous, feeding mainly on marine algae. The short mouth scrapes algae from rocks, and nasal glands expel excess salt.

Reproduction

In breeding season males display territories, and females dig nests in sand or soil. Young grow along the coast.

Notes

Its status is listed as Vulnerable. Its restricted range makes it sensitive to ocean-temperature shifts, changes in algae, and introduced animals.