Nestled in the Pacific Ocean over 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador lays the archipelago which gave Charles Darwin his revolutionary theory on evolution: the legendary Galápagos Islands. Having evolved in unique ways over thousands of years, its isolated wildlife is known amongst biologists and adventurous travellers as some of the most diverse on the planet. Let’s take a look at some of the wild endemic delights to be found in and around this amazing chain of islands.
The name Galápagos is derived from an old Spanish word referring to the tortoise’s saddle-like shape, and they have become internationally known as the symbol of the islands since, with an estimated 20,000 living there now across fifteen different sub-species. They can grow over 4ft long and weigh over 40 stone, living on average to 150 years old. There is even a tortoise gifted in the 19th century to the island of St Helena called Jonathan, who is thought to be a world record 190 years old!
Today most giant tortoises live on Isabela, where the Alcedo volcano hosts over half the island’s entire tortoise population. The other large colony is on Santa Cruz, with smaller populations on San Cristóbal, Santiago and Pinzón.
Penguins lolloping around on the Equator? It does sound like a scene from a Disney movie, but it’s true – the Galápagos penguin is the only penguin found to be in the tropics, and in the case of those living on the northern tip of Isabela, the only one to nest naturally within the northern hemisphere. It is also the third-smallest penguin in the world, standing at only a foot or so tall.
Living in natural caves and lava crevices, these penguins have been known to use a snorkeller or swimmer as a barrier against which to herd schools of fish as they glide streamlined through the water at speeds of over 20 miles an hour.
On Punta Espinosa and Fernandina you’ll find the only truly marine lizard in the world; a large, coastal-loving lizard predominantly living off marine algae to sustain its hefty size. Each morning they can be found re-energising as the sun rises again, laid out flat to expose as much of their absorbent darker surface as possible to the sun’s rays in order to warm up to a reptilian-comfy 35.5°C.
To combat the exposure to sea salt after diving for their food, these iguanas sneeze it out in two plumes of fine spray from their nostrils to remove it from their diet!
The smallest of the world’s seven fur seal species can be found on Puerto Egas, Santiago, where they rest in shady lava crevices and avoid body contact. Their name comes from the very dense underfur growing between their longer, sparser, guard hairs. They have large eyes and excellent night vision, meaning they are able to forage after dark, feeding on deeper-water lantern fishes which migrate upwards at night.
Orcas are the most frequently seen of the tooth whales here. And it’s good news for those cute little Galapagos fur seals – the resident Galapagos orca pods tend to prefer fish over the mammal hunters of the transient variety. Orcas may be called “Killer Whales,” but they technically belong to the dolphin family, sharing a similar level of intelligence. They are however very much apex predators, with diverse tastes and tactics to hunt the many different preys on their menu.
The whale shark is the largest fish in the ocean and is a regular visitor to the Galapagos Marine Reserve, weighing 20 tons and growing as large as 20 metres! Primarily planktivores, they will also eat small fish from time to time. They are regularly observed swimming close to the surface with their mouth open in a feeding behaviour known as ram-filtration, channelling plankton-filled water into their mouth.
The best time to spot the many varieties of Galapagos whales is usually from June to November, when currents bring rich nutrients to the area for feeding. Whale watching is an activity for the open ocean, so consider a Galapagos Yacht Cruise through the marine reserve in the channel between Isabella and Fernandina islands.
With only 150 pairs in existence, this hawk is a vulnerable species – but they are however very commonly seen on most of the major islands. They are also so tame that they will often land on your head to say hello! Multiple males help to raise the chicks (usually three in a clutch) by taking turns incubating eggs and feeding the hatchlings, usually situated low in trees, on lava ledges, or on the ground. They will hunt anything from iguanas and snakes to rats and birds and are known as the major scavengers of the islands.
Elite, Endemic and Ocean Spray are first-class catamarans operating a selection of cruises around the Galapagos Islands. Accommodating up to just 16 passengers, each vessel allows for a truly intimate experience as you explore one of the world’s most amazing destinations and its incredible wildlife.
Ready to book your trip to the amazing Galapagos archipelago? Get in touch with one of our travel specialists today on 0208 546 6222, or complete the enquiry form to get in touch.
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