Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2019/01/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The next installment of Galapagos wildlife! One of the iconic species in the Galapagos is the Iguana. Most know about the Marine Iguana, but there is also a Land Iguana which populates the interior. Like all the fauna of the Galapagos, they show no fear of humans, and anyone can approach them and get very close, though the authorities, very sensibly, have prescribed a limit of 6 feet as the closest that tourists are allowed to get to for all the animals/birds there. The Marine Iguana is a unique species that has adapted itself to swimming and diving in order to harvest the algae it lives on, making it an aquatic reptile, and it is endemic to the Galapagos. They are gregarious and live in large colonies: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Galapagos/Galapagos/Galapagos-20181125-2590.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Galapagos/Galapagos/Galapagos-20181129-5852.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Galapagos/Galapagos/Galapagos-20181126-4077.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Galapagos/Galapagos/Galapagos-20181126-4099.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Galapagos/Galapagos/Galapagos-20181126-4015.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Galapagos/Galapagos/Galapagos-20181126-3910.jpg.html Land Iguanas are also endemic to the Galapagos. With fresh water being very scarce on the islands, which is the primary reason they never really got inhabited by humans, the Land Iguanas primarily live on the prickly pear cactus, which gives them all the moisture they need. They are highly territorial, and live singly, defending territories: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Galapagos/Galapagos/Galapagos-20181125-3296.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Galapagos/Galapagos/Galapagos-20181125-3303.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Galapagos/Galapagos/Galapagos-20181127-4664.jpg.html On Isabela Island, we also ran into a very cooperative Immature Galapagos Hawk, which posed for us for around half an hour perched on the same branch. This is the raptor species found on the island that is seen frequently, though it is thought that only around 200 breeding pairs survive. Here are the three studies of junior: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Galapagos/Galapagos/Galapagos-20181127-4831.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Galapagos/Galapagos/Galapagos-20181127-4869.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Galapagos/Galapagos/Galapagos-20181127-4883.jpg.html Please see LARGE. Comments and criticism, as ever, welcome Cheers Jayanand