The Galapagos Islands

Island Wildlife

Iguana	Blue Footed Booby	Sea Lion

Wildlife in the Galapagos is unique from other areas in the world. With such remote and extreme elements of isolation, each island's species of animals adapted differently over time. Charles Darwin noticed this during his time here, and the wildlife sparked his theory of evolution. Along with the animals isolation came little human contact, therefor all the animals are really calm and content with people near them because they have no reason to be scared. Unlike most places, the animals will either interact and play with the people, or just not mind when people are near them. Galapagos wildlife are among the most unique and beautiful in the whole world, and that is why so many people are working to keep them from extinction.
Birds
	Great Frigatebird The Magnificant Frigate Bird otherwise known as the Man-o-War Bird is a characteristic bird of the Galapagos.It spends most of its time at sea, although it can't swim and rarely lands on the water. The red inflatable pouch pictured is used by the males for mating displays, and is a distinctive attribute to this beautiful bird.
	Flightless Cormorant The Flightless Cormorant evolved in isolation on the islands of the Galapagos. Without predators on the islands during this time there was no need to fly, and they developed into flightless birds with little nubs for wings. Today there are sadly few flightless cormorants left.
	Darwin Finches Darwins Finches are named so because Darwin studied the different types located on all the different islands. His scientific studies of these birds ultimately contributed to his famous ideology of Darwinism.
	Penguin The Galapagos Penguin is the only species of Penguin located in a tropical environment, making them very unique. They are smaller than other penguins, and have adapted to the warm tropical weather. They swim quickly, and dart through the water.
	Blue Footed Boobies The Blue Footed Booby is a characteristic and common Galapagos bird. They have a distinctive bright blue color that separates them from the other species of Boobies in the islands. They are a fishing bird that darts into the water to catch food. When mating they have a peculiar song and dance that the males perform for the female boobies.
Various Wildlife
	Giant Tortoise The Galapagos Giant Tortoise is the rarest animal in the world today. Each island has a unique species of tortoise due to the varied evolution resulting from separation. Pinta island has only one male Giant Tortoise left, named Lonesome George. With no females of the same species to mate with, the Pinta Tortoise will be extinct when Lonesome George dies.
	Iguanas The iguanas in the Galapagos come in all shapes and sizes. The varying red,blue, and yellow coloring is a result of the algae diet they consume. These reptiles lay on the rocks in the sun to stay warm. They expel the excess salt taken in while swimming in the ocean, by sneezing it out.
	Sea Lion The Sea Lions are a characteristic and common animal throughout the Galapagos Islands. They are playful and friendly towards visitors because they have no reason to fear them. While swimming they will play with people in the water, and they are always a happy and fun animal to observe.