Galapagos - San Cristobal - Marine Iguanas and Lava Lizard

Aurora_b
Mike and Liz Downing
Sun 21 Mar 2010 20:57
 
The shoreline is littered with black lava rocks and boulders and the marine iguanas are as black as the
lava and blend in, unless of course they are on the pavement.  The ones we have seen so far have been
up to 2ft in length. Apparently they grow to different sizes on the different islands, depending on the amount
food they can get - they eat algae that grows on the rocks under the water. 
 
We got close to this one shading itself from the sun on the beach.
 
You can just make this one out, feeding under the water. With the constant swell and all the nutrients in
the water, it's not that clear for taking photos.
 
The iguanas swim just using their tails and body, their legs just dangle down.
 
A typical place where the marine iguanas are found. The beach is crushed shells, not sand and at low
tide the shoreline covered in black lava rocks. 
 
A lava lizard - they're only about 8 inches long.