Galapagos Nature & Wildlife: Flora and Fauna

Discover the many plants and animals of the Galapagos Islands. Travel to Galapagos to experience the beauty of Galapagos nature and wildlife firsthand!

1. Galapagos Sperm Whales The nutrient-rich Galapagos waters are the appropriate habitat for several species of whales to be found, whether as seasonal migrants, occasional transients or eventually as resident species. One of the most common species of whales found in the Galapagos Islands is the Sperm Whale.     2. Galapagos Giant Tortoises The Galapagos Giant Tortoises are, unquestionably, the most representative and best known animals among those who inhabit the famous islands, which bear their name. They are a symbol of the Archipelago and they actually give the name to the Archipelago.     3. Galapagos Yellow-Crowned Night Herons One of the most intriguing, and to some extent attractive birds to be found in the Galapagos Islands is the Yellow-Crowned (also known as Yellow-Crested) Night Heron. It is one of the three species of herons which live in the islands as permanent residents and, in this case, it has been considered as an endemic subspecies, unique to the Archipelago.     4. Galapagos Dolphins The marine life in the Galapagos Islands is as abundant and unique as the one found on the terrestrial part of the Archipelago. One of the greatest joys for travelers visiting these Islands is to see the different species of Dolphins which can be found on its waters.     5. Galapagos Audubon’s Shearwaters A common sight while cruising the Galapagos waters, and often from coastline cliffs, is that of the fast flying Audubon Shearwater Birds. These seabirds are widely found in tropical seas around the world. However, the resident population of Audubon Shearwaters in the Galapagos Islands is considered as an endemic subspecies, unique to the Archipelago.     6. Galapagos Brown Pelicans A common sight around the entire Galapagos Archipelago is the one of the Brown Pelicans. These large sea birds are found throughout the islands, whether skimming over the water, low altitude plunge-diving or resting on mangrove trees and coastal bushes.     7. Eels in Galápagos The underwater realms of the Galapagos Islands are just as unique (or even more) than the land fauna and flora. No wonder, the Galapagos Marine Reserve, the second largest in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia), is, independently from the terrestrial Galapagos National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.     8. Galapagos Manta rays The Galapagos waters are the perfect venue for viewing several species of one of the most fascinating marine creatures: the Rays. Their smooth swimming; their diamond-shapes and many legends generated around them, make these usually peaceful animals the source of interest and emotion, when sighted from the shore, from boats or actually when swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving.     9. Galapagos Black Necked Stilts A fairly common view in and around the salty lagoons and shores, throughout many of the Galapagos Islands, is the one of an attractive wader bird, the Black-Necked Stilt. Usually found in pairs, individuals or small groups, they attract the visitors with their contrasting colors, the very conspicuous long legs and the long, pointed and straight beaks, of a rosy-red coloration.     10. Galapagos American Oystercatcher A relatively new breeder in the Galapagos islands, compared with other sea or shore birds, is the pretty American Oystercatcher, nowadays a fairly a common sight on the sandy beaches, rocky shorelines and salt water lagoons on most of the Galapagos Islands.     11. Galapagos Shark The marine fauna in the Galapagos Islands is as extensive and unique as the terrestrial fauna, one more reason for being a protected Marine Reserve and, in fact, as such, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, in addition to the terrestrial Galapagos National Park.     12. Galapagos Dark Billed Cuckoos Among the less common and non-endemic land bird species to be found in Galapagos are the Dark Billed Cuckoos. However, these mid-sized birds do have a fully resident population in the Galapagos Islands and can be seen on several of the islands, mostly around the shrubbery of the lowlands as well as on the wetter upper parts of the bigger islands.     13. Galapagos Great Blue Herons Among the shore birds of Galapagos, one which attracts the eye of all visitors is the Great Blue Heron. These tall, slender and nicely colored birds, are frequently seen on most of the islands, usually waiting motionless along the rocky coastline or other locations next to wetlands where they can find their primary sources of food: small to mid-sized fish.     14. Galapagos Short Eared Owls The Short-Eared Owl is the only other owl which nests in the Galapagos Islands, along with the Barn Owl. Neither of the two are endemic to the islands, but they are resident breeders and nesters on several parts of the Archipelago. Short-Eared Owls are found in open country and grasslands, or hovering over lava fields.     15. Galapagos Storm Petrels The smallest of the sea birds living and breeding in the Galapagos Islands, also the ones about whom less is known and little attention paid by residents or visitors, are the Storm Petrels. Nevertheless, these birds occur in the Islands in significant numbers and do have interesting life facts     16. Galapagos White-Cheeked Pintail Ducks The White Cheeked Pintail Ducks are a dabbling duck found in the Caribbean, South America and, a distinct subspecies, found precisely on the Galapagos Islands. These birds are usually good divers, even though they prefer to feed by means of dabbling or tipping instead of actual submerging.     17. Galapagos Green Sea Turtles Green Sea Turtles are among the most common species of marine turtles found in tropical and subtropical waters, around the planet. However, the species found in Galapagos is recognized to be a subspecies, exclusive to the Archipelago, and one that only nests in these Islands.     18. Galapagos Red Billed Tropic Birds One of the aesthetically most beautiful birds to be found in the Galapagos Islands is the Red-billed Tropic bird…. These magnificent seabirds, belonging to the pelicaniforme family, can also be found in the tropical latitudes of the eastern Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as on the Caribbean Sea.     19. Galapagos Frigate Birds One of the most popular and abundantly seen sea birds in the Galapagos are the two species of Frigate Birds: the Great Frigate Birds and the Magnificent Frigate Birds. These birds are widely found, particularly around the world’s tropical belt, on the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, as well as on parts of the Caribbean Sea.     20. Galapagos Brown Noddy Terns Among the seabirds found in the Galapagos, there are the ones which are the center of attraction, due to their color, size, special characteristics, evolution, endemism or other peculiar elements and, there are several other species which, not being all that “special” or attractive, they are part of the avian fauna in the Archipelago and frequently seen on several or some of the islands.     21. Galaapgos yellow Warblers The Galapagos land birds, less numerous than the sea birds, in terms of numbers of species, are generally not colorful, prevailing instead gray and brown tones on the majority of them. The two most notorious exceptions are the brightly red Vermillion Flycatcher (already described in this section), and the Yellow Warbler.     22. Galapagos Waved Albatross One of the most spectacular representatives of the avian fauna in Galapagos is the “Waved Albatross”, also known as “Galapagos Albatross”, because it is “endemic” to the Archipelago, and thus a species unique and exclusive to these islands.     23. Galapagos Flycatchers One of the most curious features which make the Galapagos Islands so truly unique, is the fact that practically all species of land birds are “endemic”, thus exclusive to these islands. Land birds are defined as such when they feed on sources found on land, as opposed to the sea.     24. Galapagos Sea Lions Perhaps the most popular representatives of the Galapagos fauna, among the vast majority of the thousands of visitors from around the world who visit the Archipelago every year, are the “Galapagos Sea Lions”.     25. Galapagos Fur Sea Lions In all their uniqueness, the Galapagos fauna has few species of mammals and, amongst them, the marine mammals prevail. This is the case with the Galapagos Sea Lions and the Galapagos Fur Sea Lions.     26. Galapagos Penguins Penguins have always been associated with the Antarctic and the polar and sub Antarctic surroundings. Thus, the idea of finding these birds on the Equator sounds bizarre for a start. However, it is not only a possibility, but an actual fact, where else in the world…?? Of course, in the unique Galapagos Islands     27. The Unique Swallow Tailed Gulls One of the biological peculiarities of Galapagos, and certainly one that attracts thousands of nature interested and loving voyagers and explorers is the high concentration of “endemic species”, those that only inhabit on this remote archipelago and nowhere else on earth… This is the case of the Swallow-tailed Gulls…     28. Sally-Lightfoot Crabs When visitors make their first landing on a Galapagos island shore or even at the harbors and docks, one of their first eye-catchers and matter of admiration will usually be the dozens of red and blackish crabs, teeming on the dark lava coastline… Their colors, movements and uniqueness create one more element of curiosity to the already magic environment….     29. Galapagos Lava Lizards One of the most outstanding features which make the Galapagos Islands so special is the existence of such a large number of species, known as “endemic”, meaning that they live exclusively on the “Enchanted Archipelago”. Thus, the word “unique” is a perfect synonymous for Galapagos…. The case applies for many or most of the land and sea birds, reptiles, mammals, fishes and land or marine invertebrates….     30. Galapagos Mockingbirds Amongst the unique fauna of the Galapagos Islands there are four species of mockingbirds, all members of the same family of smallish and somewhat noisy land birds. As opposed to sea birds (who feed on the ocean); land birds feed on land products of all sources. The name “mockingbird” derives from the fact that they frequently mimic or reproduce the sounds of other birds, either as a distracting tactic or, eventually, as an amusing genetic trait…..     31. Galapagos Land Iguanas The Galapagos Land Iguanas are “endemic” to the Archipelago, thus they are a species which is different from their continental relatives and they only live and breed on these islands…They must have arrived, thousands of years ago, like many of the non-avian fauna, most likely, floating on “rafts of vegetation” and intertwined debris, carried by the ocean currents towards Galapagos…     32. Red Footed Boobies in Galapagos Red-footed boobies are among the most famous and peculiar attractions of the unique and fantastic fauna of Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands. These sea birds (meaning they feed at sea and their diet is strictly fish), belong to the “Sulidae.” family, also known as “gannets”. Their cousins in the islands are the popular blue-footed boobies and the sparkling white “Nazca boobies”.     33. Galapagos Hawks The Galapagos Islands are famous for their unique fauna and flora and this trend could not be the exception when it comes to natural predators. This is the case with the Galapagos Hawk, a magnificent bird of prey, who is at the top (the King, so to speak…) of the food chain on land within the islands.     34. Galapagos Snakes When thinking or talking about Galapagos fauna, most everyone will tend to mentally envision blue footed boobies, frigate birds, iguanas, sea lions and the most common and iconographic species like the giant tortoises which give the islands their name…     35. Galapagos Flightless Cormorants If there is one perfect rarity in the world of avian fauna, it is the case of a sea bird, one that feeds in the ocean, yet does not fly… This is the unique Galapagos Flightless Cormorant, of course “endemic” to the islands and thus not found anywhere else in the planet…..     36. Galapagos Doves The Galapagos land birds are as unique and fascinating as the sea birds… Most land birds are generally smaller than sea birds in terms of size (with a few exceptions) and, of course, what makes them “land” birds is their feeding habitat and supplies. While sea birds capture their food almost entirely at sea; land birds capture their food only on land.. This is the case with the Galapagos Doves….     37. Galapagos Lava Gulls While there are dozens of sea-gull species around the world, the Galapagos Islands only have two species of them, both entirely unique and exclusive to the Archipelago, thus fully “endemic” to the islands. We already featured one of the two species, the Galapagos swallow tailed gulls. Now it is the turn for the Galapagos Lava Gulls.     38. Galapagos Nazca Boobies The third permanently resident species of “gannets” (“Sulidae” familiy) in Galapagos is the Nazca Boobie. The gannet family of birds is formed by several species of mid-to-fairly large sea birds, thus ocean feeders, who plunge dive from, sometimes considerable heights, directly underwater in order to capture their main food source, fish, utilizing for this purpose their long, strong and pointed beaks.

The Galapagos Flora sets the pace

Most likely the flora of the islands started this way:

1. With spores and seeds carried by the winds and "stopped" by the newly formed islands.
2. By seeds stuck to feet and plumage of migratory birds, or passed through their digestive system.
3. Via chunks of vegetation rushed to the sea by overflowing rivers and conducted throughout the ocean by the marine currents.

It happened then, it happens now. Not all seeding can "fuse" with the rocky land. Only those with simple germination necessities can adapt to the barren environment to survive and evolve in forms growing every day.
Going from shores to highlands, it has been agreed to define five zones of vegetation life in Galapagos:

1. Coastal. The sea borders are apt to salt water plants like the Red Mangrove, with its typical aerial roots and the Beach Morning Glory abundant in Santiago and other islands.
2. Arid. Cacti territories! Among a good variety, the big and famous Opuntia Cactus, (prickly-pear) in many places the only source of food and moisture for reptiles; and the graceful Candelabra Cactus. Among the newer black lavas you find Brachycereus Cactus (or aptly called lava cactus). Another typical of the zone, and common on all large islands, is a Bursera Tree of light bark called Palo Santo (holy wood), after the reddish sap that bleeds from wounds. High number of endemic plant species.
3. Humid. Epiphytes like orchids, mosses, ferns and lichens thrive in this zone's constant moisture and ornate trees and shrubs with color and charm. Typical at this degree of humidity are the Scalesias and Pisonias. Not much is said about the highlands of Galápagos, but in reality this is an amazing cloud forest with unique features.
4. Miconia. Particular to San Cristobal and Santa Cruz, this zone is named after the ever-present Miconias that require high humidity.
5. Pampa. In the populated islands this is farmland or Pampas. The temperature is low and grass is abundant; good to cultivate commercial products and raise cattle.

BIRDS: THE LARGEST BIRD IN THE ISLANDS

The Waved Albatross is found around the East Pacific. With a wingspan of 11 feet (3.5 m.) an albatross can follow wind currents for days. Their only home in Galapagos is Española (Hood) Island where spectacular courtship-displays amaze any visitor. Albatrosses depart their lovely grounds by early January and return by early April. They follow the cold waters back to the coast of South America. When the southeast trade winds come back, they not only bring cool nutrient-rich waters, but the albatrosses as well. Among the many interesting features of the waved albatross is the feeding mechanism of their young: fish oil! What an adaptation for long-feeding trips in the ocean.

RED-FOOTED BOOBIES
The only ones with prehensile feet. They nest on Palo Santo trees or bushes. A precocious group, red-footed boobies start mating when they still have their juvenile plumage (which may explain the healthy size of the colony.) Most abundant in the "bird island" of Genovesa (Tower). Worth mentioning: red-footed boobies are the most numerous of all, but the least seen of all. Reason: their nesting colonies are found along the peripheral islands of Galápagos.

BLUE-FOOTED BOOBIES
Fearless divers -- from 100 feet (30 m.) or more -- and picturesque dancers with their beaks pointing up to the sky, while stomping the ground with their huge bright blue webbed feet. Favorite nesting islands are: Española, the Daphnes, Isabela and North Seymour. Look for their courtship display: pelican dance and sky pointing. Their loud calls will get your attention: males whistle, while females honk. Look carefully at their eyes: it seems one has a larger pupil than the other one. Which is male, which is female?

Females seem to have larger pupils because more black pigmentation is present around their pupils. Did you guess right?

NAZCA BOOBIES (formerly Masked Boobies)

They are the largest of the three species. Big nesting colonies are found in Genovesa and Española. Usually, they lay and hatch two eggs, but if so, the younger chick is left out, and the older one is raised in better survival conditions. This is known as sibling murder. Check this out: eggs are laid five days apart, and so they hatch five days apart. If you happen to see this, you'll notice an incredible size difference between the two chicks. Scientists wonder why such high investment of energy ends up in the loss of one of the two chicks. Natural selection at work!

THE GALAPAGOS (FLIGHTLESS) CORMORANT
Lives in the westernmost islands, Fernandina and Isabela, where there is plenty of food and nesting habitat for this unusual seabird. In islands with plenty of food and safety, the cormorants had no practical use for their wings and, simply, by means of natural selection, became flightless. In fact, it is the only cormorant in the world that does not fly. You can even count the number of feathers on each wing!

FRIGATE BIRDS
The Frigate birds, also called Man O'War, are sea birds that are virtually not waterproof! What a contradiction! They are large (almost 6 feet/1.8 m. wingspan), lightweight and have a long, hooked beak to catch fish without getting wet. Frigates have an easier way to get food: stealing from other birds, specially red-footed boobies (this is, naturally, a survival strategy). And when it is time to raise a family, they settle in others' nests, or abscond with some sticks.

Male frigates have shiny green or purple plumage (depending on the species) and a resplendent scarlet pouch, which is displayed in courtship. There are two species of frigates in Galapagos: The Magnificent Frigate Bird and the Great Frigate Bird. Their main nesting colonies are found in Genovesa (Tower) and North Seymour Islands.

THE MOST NORTHERLY OF ALL PENGUINS
The Galápagos Penguins congregate along the rocky lava shores of Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, and Bartolome, islands cooled off by both the Cromwell and Humboldt currents. The Humboldt Current is the one that brought them all the way up to these tropical latitudes. Want to analyze a movie that talks about this? Watch Walt Disney's "The Three Caballeros". Funny. Look carefully for crevices in the rocky lava shorelines for penguins nest inside them. Small lava tubes are favorite places too. Dare to see a torpedo in the water? Jump in with the penguins and watch these graceful, but rocket fast birds, fly through the water like an arrow.

GRACEFUL AND FAST
The Red-billed Tropic Bird is a fanciful vision when it zips by into the horizon, or dives straight at a breakneck speed into the waves. Like albatrosses, this is a pelagic feeder. Pelagic comes from the Greek word pelagos, meaning oceanic-going. These birds easily travel 40-50 miles away from their nesting colony for feeding purposes. Dressed in pure white plumage, a long graceful tail and a bright red bill, the tropicbird is one of the unforgettable memories of Galapagos. Look for spectacular and loud air shows at Española, and Genovesa Islands.

PINK AT SEA
The Greater Flamingo arrived from the Caribbean and is the most impressive and colorful of all the lagoon and shore birds. It is also one of the endangered of the species in the islands. Introduced carnivores, like cats and dogs, can easily feed on the chicks.
Flamingos love privacy: They do not tolerate disturbances when breeding; their nests consist of mounds of mud. Flamingos feed on crustaceans and plants, and live in Floreana, Isabela, Rabida, Santa Cruz, and Santiago. Did you know adults flamingos feed their young with something known as "pink milk"? Did you figure out how flamingos are kept pink

Galapagos Natural Facts

The islands emerged about five million years ago, give or take a million, as a result of violent volcanic action. In geological terms, this should be considered a recent event.

As the young islands were cooling off, say, two million years later, some species gradually arrived. They were live organisms riding on "rafts of vegetation" from the shores of Central and South America. Unusual climatic events, like flooding, can take lots of vegetation rafts eventually to the ocean. Therefore, it is pure chance that allows a raft to eventually reach Galápagos. These early immigrants had to adapt to a peculiar new environment, and simply evolved -- slowly -- in a different direction from their continental ancestors. And, wonders of nature, they developed into species unique to the islands, with features not seen in their past ancestors.