| Land iguanas live on trees and stays on top to bask | | | | size according to their host islands. Those in the |
| in the sun to normalize their body temperature. They | | | | Fernandina and Isabela islands are the largest, while |
| are look similar to and could be mistaken as ordinary | | | | those on the Genovesa Island are the smallest. Adult |
| lizards if not for its size which is much larger. These | | | | males' length may reach up to 1.3 m long while |
| tree dwelling lizards are agile and are good swimmers. | | | | females could be around 0.6 m. They may weigh up |
| Most often they stay on trees where there is a | | | | to 1.5 kg. |
| body of water nearby. The water is always its | | | | Marine iguanas may also vary in their size according |
| escape when they are threatened by predators. | | | | to varying food conditions. When algae decreased for |
| Being fast movers they also transfer from one place | | | | a period of two years during an El Nino, Their length |
| to the other. Sometimes they can be spotted | | | | size decreases to as much as 20%. When the food |
| crossing a road. | | | | supply normalized, their lengths returned to regular |
| The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) | | | | size. It is believed that their bones shrink during those |
| however moved not as fast but they are better | | | | periods of food shortage. |
| swimmers and they stay in seawater coastlines as | | | | The marine iguana can only stay a limited period in |
| their home because they live on eating algae. The | | | | water as to hunt for algae as they are cold blooded |
| iguana can only be found only on the Galapagos | | | | animals. However, if they search for food around |
| Islands The entire coastline is inhabited by marine | | | | shallow waters, they could stay up to half an hour |
| iguanas. Their ability is unique among modern lizards, | | | | and underwater. After each dive, they return to the |
| to live and forage in the sea. It has spread to all the | | | | shore and bask under the sun to normalize body |
| islands in the archipelago and is sometimes called the | | | | temperature. When cold, the marine iguanas tend to |
| Galapagos Marine Iguana. It lives on the rocks of the | | | | be more aggressive. Actually that is their defense |
| Galapagos shore and can be seen in marshes or | | | | mechanism because in reality, as their body is cold |
| mangrove beaches. | | | | from under the water, they cannot move fast and |
| Amblyrhynchus cristatus are mostly black but the | | | | avoid predators. So they become aggressive when |
| young have lighter color and a dorsal stripe. Adult | | | | anyone approaches them. |
| specimens appear in grayish color. Scientists explain | | | | The main predators of marine iguanas are cats and |
| that marine iguanas have to have dark black emerge | | | | dogs. They are easy victims as these lizards moves |
| from water. They feed on marine algae almost | | | | very slow. The population of the marine iguanas in |
| entirely. It is brilliant that they are designed to expel | | | | the Galapagos Island is dwindling because of |
| salt through nasal glands. The expelled salt coating | | | | predation and El Nino. They are estimated at 50,000 |
| could make their faces white. Adult males vary in | | | | to 100,000. The species is protected by Ecuadorian |
| color according to season. During breeding season, | | | | laws. |
| male adults in the south appear as reddish and | | | | Scientists believe that land and marine iguanas may |
| teal-green colors while it is brick red and black in Sta | | | | have evolved from common ancestor. Other opinions |
| Cruz Island and in brick red and greenish in Fernandina | | | | claim that they may have evolved from an extinct |
| Islands. | | | | sea reptile. |
| The marine iguanas living in the Galapagos differ in | | | | |