Premium Only Content

Marine iguanas of the Galápagos Islands are a wonder of evolvution
Marine iguanas are fascinating animals that exist in only one place on earth; the Galápagos Islands. They are descended from regular iguanas but they have changed over time so that they can thrive in this beautiful, but hostile environment.
During the dry season there is little vegetation growing in this harsh climate. Food is scarce and competition for what little nourishment there is can be tremendous.
Marine iguanas evolved to be able to live on algae, but the catch is that the algae grows only underwater. The iguanas learned to feed when the tide receded, but competition drove them to seek out algae that grew outside of the intertidal zones. Marine iguanas have developed an ability to hold their breath for up to 30 minutes, allowing them to swim out beyond the surf and into a world full of food. They are able to dive as deep as 30m (100 feet) in search of food. Because the waters around the Galapagos Islands are cold, the iguanas must store up body heat by basking in the sun each morning before venturing out to feed.
Eventually, cold will drive them back onto land where they will stretch out on lava rocks to warm up again. Females and juvenile iguanas are not strong enough to withstand the crashing waves and strong currents as they seek algae. They feed closer to shore in calmer waters and leave the deeper algae to the larger males. Marine iguanas have also evolved to have long, powerful claws so that they can anchor themselves in the surge. Their mouths have shortened and become more suited for chewing on the plant growth that exists on the rock surfaces underwater. These iguanas, and the other animals of the Galapagos Islands helped Charles Darwin form his theory of evolution that changed the way we thing about our planet, as well as our own origins.
-
1:59
WildCreatures
3 years ago $7.77 earnedMarine iguanas of the Galápagos Islands are a wonder of evolvution
281K274 -
0:27
maxsilva
4 years agoThe Marine Iguana Found Only On The Galápagos Islands.
41 -
25:12
Jasmin Laine
7 hours agoDanielle Smith’s EPIC Mic Drop Fact Check Leaves Crowd FROZEN—Poilievre FINISHES the Job
3.68K16 -
LIVE
ZWOGs
11 hours ago🔴LIVE IN 1440p! - SoT w/ Pudge & SBL, Ranch Sim w/ Maam & MadHouse, Warzone & More - Come Hang Out!
57 watching -
LIVE
This is the Ray Gaming
52 minutes agoI'm Coming Home Coming Home Tell The World... | Rumble Premium Creator
37 watching -
LIVE
GrimmHollywood
10 hours ago🔴LIVE • GRIMM HOLLYWOOD • GEARS OF WAR RELOADED CUSTOMS • BRRRAP PACK •
48 watching -
1:13:28
Glenn Greenwald
4 hours agoGlenn Takes Your Questions on the Minneapolis School Shooting, MTG & Thomas Massie VS AIPAC, and More | SYSTEM UPDATE #506
99.4K46 -
LIVE
RCAM
1 hour agoLIVE | Trans Shooter Who Targeted Christians | Premium Creator
41 watching -
LIVE
Spartan
5 hours agoMaybe finishing Expedition 33, then back to Halo Grind
9 watching -
DVR
Armadillofather
3 hours ago $0.52 earnedEspionage Action in the Den! | Metal Gear Solid Delta | You being here means so much!
12.5K