By: Alex
In 1835, Darwin arrived at the Galápagos Islands (also known as the Colón Archipelago, hereafter referred to as the Galápagos), where he was inspired by the various strange flora and fauna and wrote his world-famous work "On the Origin of Species," proposing the theory of evolution. The theory of evolution, centered on "natural selection, survival of the fittest," shattered the then-prevailing belief in Europe of divine creation. Thus, some say that Darwin parted ways with God on the Galápagos.
▲The Galápagos Islands straddle the equator and are a living museum of biological evolution. (Photo by bastienaie @IG)
▲Marine iguanas are unique to the Galápagos Islands. (Photo by ikalahotel @IG)
Administered by the South American country Ecuador, the Galápagos consists of 16 volcanic islands and hundreds of smaller islets, and straddles the equator, making it a paradise for wildlife. While it does have common tropical species such as whale sharks and hammerhead sharks, it also hosts the only penguin colony on the equator (Galápagos penguins). The surrounding waters are not only a world-renowned diving destination but also frequently frequented by dolphins and sea turtles. The Galápagos sea lions (Galápagos sea lions) brazenly sleep on sidewalks and park benches, completely indifferent to human gaze.
▲Galápagos sea lions can sleep anywhere, completely unfazed by human presence. (Photo by thetravelerchoice @IG)
▲Galápagos sea lions (Photo by oceanconservancy @IG)
Just as numerous as the sea lions are the various marine and land iguanas. Essentially, they are the same species but have evolved into different varieties due to differences in living habits. As the name suggests, land iguanas live on land, love to eat cacti, and their bodies are earthy yellow to blend in with the color of sand and rocks. Marine iguanas can swim and dive up to 15 meters to feed on algae on the seabed; their bodies are mainly black but during the breeding season, they can display other colors like chameleons.
▲Marine iguanas display other colors like chameleons during the breeding season. (Photo by go_galapagos @Twitter)
▲Being cold-blooded creatures, marine iguanas must bask in the sun after each feeding to raise their body temperature. (Photo by bastienaie @IG)
▲Although marine iguanas look fierce, they are actually herbivores and very timid. (Photo by SandraMeek_poet @Twitter)
▲Land iguanas wear a golden armor-like coat and primarily feed on cacti. (Online image)
Another iconic animal of the Galápagos is the Galápagos giant tortoise. It is the largest living species of tortoise in the world, with a body length of up to 1.2 meters and a lifespan of up to 200 years. They once hovered on the brink of extinction. After years of artificial breeding and careful conservation, the population of some subspecies has recovered to a certain level, temporarily averting the threat of extinction.
▲Adult Galápagos giant tortoises can grow up to 1.2 meters in length, with an average weight of 175 kilograms and a record weight of 400 kilograms. (Photo by aacarrano @IG)
▲Most Galápagos giant tortoises are endangered species. (Photo by kattyzorina @IG)
▲Galápagos giant tortoise (Photo by monsearceu @IG)
Although blue-footed boobies are not unique to the Galápagos, they are definitely one of the archipelago’s iconic birds. Their striking blue feet are particularly eye-catching. The color of the feet comes mainly from pigments in fish and shrimp (their main diet)—the deeper the color, the better the bird's nutrition and hunting skills, making them more attractive to females.
▲Blue-footed boobies practice lifelong monogamy. Their courtship dance is especially amusing. (Photo by galapagosaltamar @IG)
▲The deeper the color of a blue-footed booby’s feet, the better its hunting skills and the more appealing it is to females. (Photo by lisafrandall @IG)
Equally well-known as the blue-footed booby is the magnificent frigatebird of the Galápagos. However, calling them "pirate birds" might be more appropriate, as they often rely on their superior flying skills to snatch prey from other seabirds mid-air. Males are entirely black, smaller than females, but during the breeding season, their throat inflates into a bright red balloon-like sac, which is very eye-catching.
▲Male frigatebirds inflate their throats into a bright red sac-like balloon during the breeding season, which is very striking. Pictured is the magnificent frigatebird. (Photo by everythingeverywhere @IG)
▲Frigatebirds are both fast and highly skilled flyers. (Photo by go_galapagos @Twitter)
▲Also featuring a vivid red hue are the common red rock crabs found along the shoreline. (Photo by danielponomari @IG)
▲Red rock crab (Photo by ecuador4worlds @IG)
Source: Wikipedia, Baidu Baike