Top 5
land & shore wildlife
rankings
Galapagos Islands

 

Galapagos land/shore
wildlife rankings

For criteria, see "About my land-and-shore list" section below.

Giant tortoises

Once, 250,000 existed in the Galapagos. Today, the population is down to 15,000, mainly due to 19th-century whalers harvesting them for food and liquid. The most famous giant tortoise is the century-and-a-half old Lonesome George, who lives comfortably at the Charles Darwin Research Center on Santa Cruz Island. The carapace (upper part of the shell) is unique on each Galapagos island, an evolutionary development. The giant tortoise is the largest land or sea turtle in the world It weighs up to 250 kilograms (550 pounds). The giant tortoises' estimated lifespan is 150 years, some experts believe longer. 

Espanola, Isabela, Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, and Santiago.

Marine iguanas

This Galapagos species is famous for its prehistoric monster-like appearance (see photo). Some reach one meter (three feet) in length. Marine iguanas are the world's only bona fide sea-going lizard. These Galapagos creatures spend their leisure time onshore lazing together on dry, lava rock for warmth and protection (their soot-black skin camouflages them). Marine Iguanas are mainly vegetarians. They dive-feed in the sea, mainly for young algae and seaweed.

Fernandina, Floreana, Isabela, North Seymour, and Santa Cruz.

Land iguanas

These sizable "dragon" lizards measure up to 3 meters long and some live over 60 years. The land iguana's normally yellow-orange to brown-color skin makes it a snap for first-timers to distinguish them from marine iguanas, their distant relative. Land iguanas prefer dry island areas. Diet is mainly vegetarian. Cactus fruit is a favorite food, for substance, nutrients and water.

Espanola, Fernandina, Isabela, and Santa Fe.

Sea lions

These mammals are swift, nimble swimmers, allowing them to catch fish and escape sharks with relative ease. Sea lions are also playful and social. Many love body-surfing on beach waves with their companions. And inquisitive young sea lions eagerly mingle with snorkelers and divers. Sea lions spend most of their time lazing on sandy beaches and rocky shores. Life span is about 20 years. Mature males can weigh over 250 kilograms ( 550 pounds).

Nearly all.

Sally lightfoot crab

They captivate photographers because their bright red-and-yellow-hued shell vividly contrasts against the stark black-lava rock along the tidal shorelines (see photo). They gained their "lightfoot" moniker because they briefly scamper on water to escape predators. Sally lightfoot crabs are scavengers as well as algae eaters.

Throughout the Galapagos.

Also look for these
interesting Galapagos wildlife

alphabetical

Galapagos fur seals (aka "fur sea lions")
Galapagos snakes
Ghost crabs
Hermit crabs
Lava lizards

About my
land-and-shore list

Ranking criterion: Unbiased consensus of many sophisticated travelers.

Category criterion: This top 5 list comprises wingless creatures that spend all or most of their lives on land. See my land-and-shore page for creatures like marine iguanas and my marine life page for those like dolphins.

Top 5 bird rankings
Top 5 marine life rankings

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