Premium Only Content

Marine lizard is shockingly graceful in the surf of the Galapagos
Marine iguanas are a wonder of evolution, having adapted to the harsh life on The Galapagos Islands. The islands were formed less than 4 million years ago when volcanoes erupted, spewing lava upwards from the ocean floor, creating the pillars of rock and islands that are now the Galapagos Islands as we know them. Described as a "land borne of fire", the islands are beautiful and extremely harsh at the same time. Fresh water is scarce and the animals that thrive here have changed over time to meet the demands of this unforgiving climate.
Marine iguanas are one of the best examples of this adaptability. During the six month droughts that exists on the islands, the lizards would have starved if they did not venture into the surf in search of food. Vegetation on the island becomes dormant and undigestible when water availability drops to nearly zero. The lizards enter the water to eat the algae that grows on the rocks under the waves.
The females and juveniles eat the vegetation that can be found in tide pools and shallows. The mature males have learned to hold their breath for up to 30 minutes at a time so that they can dive and forge on the moist plants. Because of the high salt content, the lizards have developed glands that allow them to concentrate and expel salt from their nostrils. The lizards have also developed the ability to swim in raging surf and strong currents, due to their powerful tails. Huge claws help the iguanas anchor themselves on the rocks while they eat.
This scuba diver had the good fortune to witness one of these incredible animals feeding and then going to the surface to breath so it can return to the algae bed. These iguanas are cold blooded and they will lose body heat rapidly in the cool water. They spend their afternoons and mornings basking on black lava to absorb heat before they plunge into the ocean each day at noon to feed. Surprisingly, this strange looking lizard is graceful and sleek as it swims, looking completely at home in the water.
-
1:23:50
The Officer Tatum
2 hours agoLIVE Alligator Alcatraz, NYC Candidate Mamdani, Idaho Shooter DEEP DIVE + MORE EP 135
8.88K2 -
24:32
Redacted News
2 hours ago"The US Dollar is almost WORTHLESS and we are heading for a DARK COLLAPSE " Dr. Ron Paul
60K63 -
LIVE
WickedVirtue
56 minutes agoI'm home! Solo potato plays!
56 watching -
46:14
Candace Show Podcast
2 hours agoBREAKING NEWS: I Just Got Subpoenaed By Blake Lively And Ryan Reynolds | Candace Ep 209
43.7K44 -
LIVE
Akademiks
1 hour agoDiddy Trial Day 33: Verdict Watch! Jury Set to Deliberate and deliver Verdict!! (1/30)
1,538 watching -
DVR
StoneMountain64
5 hours agoDelta Force CONSOLE and Controller FINALLY has a launch date
47.9K -
2:08:35
Pop Culture Crisis
3 hours agoPixar 'ELIO' LGBTQ Erasure, Taylor Swift Tradwife Era? Dave Chappelle Dunks on DJ Khaled | Ep. 868
33.4K2 -
1:18:29
Awaken With JP
5 hours agoAlligator Alcatraz and Billionaire Weddings - LIES Ep 98
124K24 -
LIVE
LFA TV
22 hours agoLFA TV ALL DAY STREAM - TUESDAY 7/1/25
949 watching -
LIVE
freecastle
6 hours agoTAKE UP YOUR CROSS- Make America Healthy Again! (MAHA) and Make BRITISH Babies Again? (MBBA)??
100 watching