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~ On water
~ On land
~ On the move
More information on marine iguanas & the Galápagos:
~ The Galápagos
Conservation Trust
~ Charles Darwin
Foundation
~ Charles
Darwin Research Station
Marine Iguana, Isabela Island - Galápagos
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MARINE IGUANAS OF THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
The marine iguana is the only iguana in the world that is known to
go into the sea. It is a strong diver, descending to depths of 35
feet. The dives are usually brief, lasting between 5 to 10 minutes,
but the iguana is able to slow its metabolism sufficiently to remain
underwater for up to an hour.
The divers are usually the larger males, while the other members of
the colony feed intertidally on the exposed lower portions of the
rocks. The marine iguana's diet consists almost exclusively of red
or green algae-type seaweed.
While marine iguanas can be seen in high concentrations on the Galápagos
Islands, their numbers are declining, and their distribution is patchy.
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