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| Blue-footed Boobies -- native to the Galapagos (but not endemic) |
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| Galapagos Hawk |
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| Galapagos Flightless Cormorant |
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| Flightless cormorant drying wings |
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| Marine Iguana sunning |
On a recent trip to the Galapagos Islands we had some wonderful experiences with the endemic wildlife, such as the Galapagos Tortoise, Marine Iguana, and Flightless Cormorant. Endemic means that a particular species is found here and nowhere else on the planet, having evolved to form a distinct species. The amazing part about the Galapagos is that these animals have been isolated for millions of years without human contact; consequently they've evolved without an instinctive fear of humans. Some creatures in other parts of the world can lose a certain amount of fear with regard to humans based on their personal experience... however the difference is that instinctive fear is still present and always will be.
This difference makes the Galapagos a particularly fascinating place to experience wildlife!
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| Galapagos Sea Lions & curious primates |
Marine Iguanas, Galapagos Sea Lions, and Galapagos Tortoises watched our activities with curiosity at times, but mostly with total disregard. They did not seem too keen to move off the path in fact!
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| Marine Iguanas are ubiquitous along the coastline in the Galapagos and come in all sizes - these ones are quite young and still handsome! |
This is an older male strutting his stuff... and it turns out his "opponent" is a lady!
The Galapagos Tortoise
These are the creatures that Darwin made famous. Each island has its own distinct subspecies.
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| Diego, super dad to over one thousand little Espanola tortoises |
The
Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora is a great place to learn about
the Galapagos Tortoise. The Española
tortoises were in critical danger in the 1960’s, when all living Española
tortoises, 2 males and 12 females, were brought to the research station for
protection. Diego arrived from the San Diego zoo in 1977, where he had spent
decades. Diego is over 130 years
old!! Diego has a long neck because the
Espanola subspecies evolved to feed on tall Opuntia cactus -- which grew tall
to keep out of reach of the tortoises with long necks... Which came first? the tall cactus or the
long-necked tortoise...? -- answer: they evolved together. After all, it was Darwin who wrote:
"It
is not the strongest of the species that survives,
nor the most intelligent
that survives.
It is the one that is the most adaptable to change."
--
Charles Darwin
nor the most intelligent that survives.
It is the one that is the most adaptable to change."
-- Charles Darwin
Given our
track record with the environment this seems
prescient!
Are we smart enough as a
species to change our ways?
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/charlesdar398645.html#zUF2lDZWJ55208J0.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/charlesdar398645.html#zUF2lDZWJ55208J0.99
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/charlesdar398645.html#zUF2lDZWJ55208J0.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/charlesdar398645.html#zUF2lDZWJ55208J0.99
