Even though the Galapagos Islands are right on the equator, the penguins stay cool because of the water from the Humboldt Current and the cool water brought up from the deep sea by the Cromwell Current. There are more than 400 different species of fish swimming around the islands, too. They protect the very special animals of the Galapagos from the dangers of volcanic eruption and invasive species, as well as promoting awareness of our responsibility towards our environment. 5) They are the largest endemic land animal in the Galapagos. Once thought to be a single species, the tortoises of the Galápagos Islands are now considered to be several different species. That means that they’re not found anywhere else in the world. The Galapagos Islands are one of the world’s favorite travel destinations. 42% of the plants, 79% of mammals, 80% of birds, 91% of reptiles and 56% of insects are endemic to the archipelago. Galapagos tortoises are kings and queens of endurance. In fact, these animals helped Darwin develop his theory of evolution. Galapagos Cruises Why Cruise with Us Activities. . Our trip advisors are here to help! Galapagos is divided into 2 by equator. Islands Animals. These islands are home to dozens of animals, both native and brought by humans. An overview of the Galapagos Wildlife. Darwin was not the first person to see the Galápagos Islands, but they were not a common destination before his visit. Unparalleled locations with outstanding facilities. The isles are mainly well known for their wildlife, flightless birds, giant reptiles and wild plant life which play a major part in the earths ecosystem. See more ideas about ecuador, animals, galapagos. Galapagos Flamingos or Caribbean Flamingos (Phoenicopterus Ruber) are gregarious, wading birds that belong to a family of large, brilliantly coloured aquatic birds whose habitats are alkaline or saline lakes. The ideal cruise alternative, keep your feet on the ground, with hotel based & land hopping tours to explore the islands in depth, Experience the Galapagos Islands underwater, tools that will make your Galapagos booking a breeze. There are over 400 species of fish surrounding the Galápagos Islands with more than 50 endemic species. Galapagos tortoises live for a long time, generally over 100 years, and the oldest known case lived to 170. These tortoises are native to the two islands namely Galapagos and Aldabra coral atoll. There are also more than 800 types of mollusks, including oysters, cuttlefish, snails, squids and octopuses. Galápagos tortoise facts, pictures and information. There are 18 major islands in the chain and over 100 smaller islands, covering an area of about 8,000 km. Compared to the enormity of the Amazon Basin, Galapagos is a very small archipelago lost far out in the ocean. This will allow them to gain enough speed quickly to stay airborne. Whale and dolphin watching season is usually June to October and is best done by boat. Because they’re so small, they have many natural predators. Around 95% of Galapagos Islands are assigned as nature preserve in 1959. Sea lion, Galapagos penguin, Giant tortoise, Great white shark, Leatherback turtle, Sei whale Illegal fishing, non-native species and the demands of more than 160,000 tourists each year threaten this irreplaceable ecosystem and the people who depend on it for their food and livelihoods. Due to the sheer size of their unusually long wings, they have a hard time taking off and landing. Giant Galapagos Tortoises are not all the same, with almost every island of the Galapagos having its own subspecies. The islands were discovered in 1535 and were named after English pirates. Compare that to the small tree finch, who’s fast, sharp beak is well suited for snatching up small insects. I had the opportunity to snorkel with some sea turtles once. They are the smallest of all small-eared seals, with the females only reaching 1.2 meters. Land birds and California sea lions arrived from North America, pink flamingos and Darwin’s finches from the Caribbean. They don’t become mature until they’re between 26 and 40 years old, the same as many people. Males grow up to 6 x 5 ft (1.8 x 1.5 m) and females are about half the size of males. The Galapagos archipelago is perhaps one of the most bio-diverse places on earth. The Galapagos is made up of 19 islands and 107 rocky islets. Marine iguanas—found exclusively in the Galápagos—are the world’s only seagoing lizards. Frigate birds have tiny bodies with huge wings. Ft ( 1.8 x 1.5 m ) were nearly hunted to extinction in the world ’ s theory evolution! For around a year without drinking or eating most underrated destinations for traveling alone is the having... Any animal we left out that you were hoping to find of the most of... 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