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The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), also known as the sea iguana, saltwater iguana, or Galápagos marine iguana, is a species of iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands . Unique among modern lizards , it is a marine reptile that has the ability to forage in the sea for algae , which makes up almost all of its diet. [ 5 ]
Marine iguana: marine iguanas live only on the Galápagos Islands and are not fully adapted to marine life. Although they feed exclusively on marine plants and spend a good deal of their time in the water, they do nest on land and need to bask in the sun to reach their ideal body temperature; they are thus also subject to terrestrial predators.
Marine Iguanas are the only marine lizard species in the world found only in the Galápagos Islands. They can dive as deep as 30m (98 feet) and hold their breath for 30-40 minutes.
The marine iguana is also extremely unusual, since it is the only iguana adapted to life in the sea. Land iguanas, lava lizards, geckos and harmless snakes are also found on the islands. The large number and range of birds is also of interest to scientists and tourists. Around 56 species live in the archipelago, of which 27 are found only in ...
Marine iguanas are among the world's most unusual creatures. Specially adapted to one of the most harsh and unforgiving environments on earth, they live on lava rock beaches in the Galapagos ...
[4] [5] It is not uncommon for it to take marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus). Most of the marine iguana prey are mainly hatchlings and juveniles but occasionally adults, especially nesting females. [6] [7] The Galapagos hawk can kill relatively large individuals, which can weigh at least equal to the hawk's own weight or even heavier.
By contrast, marine iguanas are a solid blackish color, while land iguanas are reddish-yellow; neither are banded. [1] The first hybrid iguana was discovered in 1981. In 1997, high ocean temperatures during a severe El Niño season caused failure of the seaweed beds around the Galapagos Islands and about half the marine iguanas starved to death ...
The Galápagos land iguanas comprise the genus Conolophus of the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador). The number of species of this variable genus has always been disputed; the most current taxonomic surveys suggest that three species exist: