8 Galapagos Islands Animals You Never Knew Existed

land iguana

The Galapagos Islands have become known as the “Laboratory of Evolution.”

This explains why when the English naturalist Charles Darwin visited the islands he spent over five weeks on the islands gathering data for his theory.

When he arrived via the HMS Beagle, he must have been amazed by the variety of creatures on the islands.

The Galapagos has so many rare and unique animals, you probably had no idea that these kinds of creatures even existed.

Do you want to learn more about the most fascinating Galapagos Islands animals? Check out the below blog post!

The Giant Tortoises

Did you know there are giant tortoises on the Galapagos? The Giant Tortoise was almost iconic for the Galapagos Islands.

Until his death in 2012, Lonesome George was world-famous. He was the last remaining of the Pinta tortoises.

Unfortunately, this species has been targeted by poachers for over two-hundred years. Due to these threats of extinction, conservationists believed the species must be eliminated.

And yet, with the discovery of Lonesome George in 1971, we discovered that the species is still with us. However, sadly for George he never found a female partner to procreate with.

Since his death, he has been preserved by taxidermists. You can visit him in the Galapagos Islands. You can also spot a bunch of other species of giant tortoises on the islands.

Huge Sea Lions

The Galapagos sea lions are another symbolic creature of the islands. If you arrive at the islands, you’ll almost immediately notice the sea lions laying in the sun.

They love to eat tasty sardines. They are able to dive deeply into the ocean waters—more than 350 meters.

Human men are often bigger than human women. And yet, you would rarely find a man twice as heavy than a female.

But, the male sea lions are actually more than four times bigger than the female ones. You’ll also be able to spot the males by the large bumps on their heads.

Strange Manta Rays

You should definitely jump at the chance to go scuba diving while you’re on vacation in the Galapagos. This is one of the best places in the world to explore the deep sea.

When you’re swimming underwater, watch out for some of the most majestic and rarest animals around. If you spot any diamond-shaped fish, these could be manta rays.

The manta rays are black on top and white underneath. You may also see splashes of blue on some of them.

However, what makes the creature so unusual is the mouth on the back of its head.

You may not even need to get into the water to catch a glimpse. You can sometimes spot the manta rays grabbing plankton and fish larvae floating on the surface.

The Land Iguana

When you spot a land iguana, you begin to question whether mythical dragon creatures might once have really existed.

When the sun is warm, the land iguanas love to bask in the heat. At three feet in length, they’ll be spread out over the rocks at the side of the coast.

There are quite a few different species of the land iguana on the islands. You’ll find the yellow ones and the pink ones. There is also the conolophus pallidus, which is only found on the Santa Fe island.

Galapagos Penguins

Sure, there are penguins elsewhere. And yet, the Galapagos penguins are the only species of the animal north of the equator.

Penguins are normally associated with cold climates, such as Antarctica. However, the Galapagos penguins have evolved to be able to cope with warmer climates.

They’re always on the lookout for shade to escape the unforgiving sun. They also believe in strength in numbers—always sticking together.

Green Sea Turtles

When you go snorkeling the waters around the Galapagos Islands, keep your eyes peeled for the green sea turtles.

You probably won’t be able to catch these creatures unless you’re willing to explore underwater. They only venture onto shore when they need to lay their eggs.

Because the sea turtles are always munching green algae, they have actually turned green. That’s why they’re called “green sea turtles.”

Forget the story of the tortoise and the hare. These sea turtles can reach up to 35 miles per hour in the water.

The Blue-Footed Booby

The blue-footed booby is very aptly named. They have bright blue feet which draws your attention immediately. Apparently, the bluer the feet, the healthier the bird.

Unlike the sea lions, the size of the blue-footed booby doesn’t change from male to female. However, the female has an audible low pitch honk when it cries. The males have all developed individual calls to help them stand out from the crowd.

Do you want to discover more about this incredible creature? You can learn more about the blue-footed booby on this travel blog.

The Greater Flamingo

You may imagine that the flamingo wouldn’t be the same without its signature striking pink feathers.

But, did you know that they’re only pink because of the carotenoids which they consume in the water plants? The greater flamingo would be a pale white if it wasn’t for their favorite food.

You can watch them standing on one leg while they create nests for their young. Even though many species of birds only breed during a particular season, the greater flamingo lays eggs all year.