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Exotic Galapagos Island Wildlife

The Galapagos island wildlife is unique in the world due to its exotic animals that can only be seen in these group of beautiful and enchanted islands.

This islands are a living museum of evolutionary changes, come along with me and discover a wide variety of exotic species exclusive to this Archipelago.

Animals in the Galapagos are unafraid of man and so different from any others found elsewhere, this make visitors wonder about their very existence on our planet.



Galapagos wildlife is one of the major attractions these islands have to offer to its thousands of visitors each year.



Galapagos Penguin

galapagos island wildlife with galapagos penguins


The Galapagos Penguins congregate along the rocky lava shores of Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, and Bartolome, islands cooled off by both the Cromwell and Humboldt currents.

The Humboldt Current is the one that brought them all the way up to these tropical latitudes.

Want to analyze a movie that talks about this? Watch Walt Disney's "The Three Caballeros". Funny.

Look carefully for crevices in the rocky lava shorelines for penguins nest inside them.

Small lava tubes are favorite places too. Dare to see a torpedo in the water? Jump in with the penguins and watch these graceful, but rocket fast birds, fly through the water like an arrow.

This is the smallest of the warm weather penguins.

GRACEFUL AND FAST

The "Red-billed Tropic Bird" is one of the most fanciful vision of the Galapagos island wildlife, when it zips by into the horizon, or dives straight at a breakneck speed into the waves.

Like the Waved Albatross which is a pelagic feeder. Pelagic comes from the Greek word pelagos, meaning oceanic-going.

These birds easily travel 40-50 miles away from their nesting colony for feeding purposes.

Dressed in pure white plumage, a long graceful tail and a bright red bill, the tropicbird is one of the unforgettable memories of the Galapagos island wildlife.



Look for spectacular and loud air shows at Española, and Genovesa Islands.

Blue Footed Boobies (Sula nebouxi) are the most famous birds in the Galapagos Islands. Watching this bird diving in the ocean is quite a view. More about Blue Footed Boobies here

The Galapagos Finches: Ahh... they were Darwin's inspiration birds and deserve a special page. Read all about Galapagos Finches

Another important species that play a major roll in Galapagos wildlife are the Galapagos Birds

Galapagos Flamingos

galapagos wildlife flamingos


The Greater Flamingo arrived from the Caribbean and is the most impressive and colorful of all the lagoon and shore birds.

It is also one of the endangered of the species in the islands. Introduced carnivores, like cats and dogs, can easily feed on the chicks.

Flamingos love privacy: They do not tolerate disturbances when breeding; their nests consist of mounds of mud.

Flamingos feed on crustaceans and plants, and live in Floreana, Isabela, Rabida, Santa Cruz, and Santiago.

Did you know adults flamingos feed their young with something known as "pink milk"? Did you figure it out how flamingos are kept pink in captive conditions? Learn more about Galapagos flamingo

The Galapagos Iguanas are one of the most interesting animals in the Galapagos island wildlife, there are two endemic species of iguanas: the Galapagos Land Iguana and the famous Marine Iguana of Galapagos

The Galapagos Giant Tortoise: Read a complete review on the Galapagos giant tortoise

Galapagos Sea Lions: This animal of the Galapagos island has different origins, all living in the same place:

The only two species of terrestrial marine mammals in the Galapagos island wildlife are Galapagos Sea Lions and Fur Sea lions.

As the sea lions came from the north (their ancestor is the Californian Sea lion), the Fur sea lions came from the south (their ancestor is the South American Fur sea lion). How interesting: two distant pinnipeds share the same place.



Seals or Sea lions? There are no seals in Galapagos island wildlife.The two species of Pinnipeds are types of sea lions.

In the Galapagos, one essential difference between seals and sea lions is that sea lions have an external ear (ear lobe), and seals lack it.

Another interesting difference is that seals propel themselves, both in water and land, with their rear flippers.

Sea lions propel with their flippers. Here's more information about these Galapagos island animals

Therefore, the so-called Fur Seal is in fact a type of sea lion. Its correct name should be fur sea lion.

More About the Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Reptiles

Galapagos Lava Lizard

Galapagos Dolphin

Friendly Galapagos Shark

Colorful Galapagos Fish

Review on Galapagos Plants

Captain Robert Fitzroy of the HMS Beagle

Galapagos Marine Reserve

Cheap Air Flights to Galapagos

Galapagos Vacation Reviews

Galapagos Islands Information

Visit the Galapagos Store

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If you have any Questions about the Galapagos island wildlife or if you want more information about our recommended Galapagos Island Cruises You can send your requests here

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