Española Marine Iguanas

Male Española Marine Iguana

The Galapagos Islands are home to the only sea going iguana in the world - the Galapagos Marine Iguana.  These  new world lizards live on the black rocks of the islands coast and feed on algae and sea weed. 

Normally, marine iguanas are black in color, a camouflage, making it difficult for predators to differentiate between the iguanas and the black lava rocks where they live. Due to its remote location many of the animals like many animals on Española the iguanas here evolved differently than iguanas on other isalnds.  Adult male Española Marine Iguanas are brightly colored with a reddish tint except during mating season when their color changes to more of a greenish shade.  The best time of year to see these Christmas colored iguanas is between  December and February.