A female lava lizard sheds skin on Santiago / San Salvador / James Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.

A female lava lizard sheds skin on Santiago (or San Salvador, or James) Island, in the Galápagos archipelago, a province of Ecuador. Collectively known as lava lizards, seven ground lizard species of the reptile genus Tropidurus are endemic to the Galápagos Islands (and commonly placed in the genus Microlophus). All seven most likely evolved from a single ancestral species, demonstrating the principal of adaptive radiation that is typical of the inhabitants of the Galapagos archipelago. One lava lizard species occurs on all the central and western islands, which were perhaps connected during periods of lower sea levels, while one species each occurs on six other more peripheral islands. Males and females of all Tropidurus species are marked differently. The male is usually much larger than the female, and its body is more brightly colored and distinctly patterned. Markings vary considerably, even within an individual species. Animals living mainly on dark lava are darker than ones which live in lighter, sandy environments. Like many lizards, they show changes of color with mood and temperature. Santiago is equivalent to Saint James in English; and its alternative name San Salvador refers to the island discovered by Columbus in the Caribbean Sea. Santiago Island has a maximum altitude of 907 metres (2976 feet). Human-introduced pigs and goats caused great harm to the endemic species, but have been subsequently eradicated (pigs in 2002; goats almost all eliminated).

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Filename: 09ECU-4158_Galapagos.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / Photoseek.com
Image Size: 4800x3204 / 3.9MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; Animalia Ecuador Galapagos Islands Pacific Ocean South America adventure animal desert equator nature travel wildlife animal
Contained in galleries: ECUADOR: Galapagos Islands

A female lava lizard sheds skin on Santiago (or San Salvador, or James) Island, in the Galápagos archipelago, a province of Ecuador. Collectively known as lava lizards, seven ground lizard species of the reptile genus Tropidurus are endemic to the Galápagos Islands (and commonly placed in the genus Microlophus). All seven most likely evolved from a single ancestral species, demonstrating the principal of adaptive radiation that is typical of the inhabitants of the Galapagos archipelago. One lava lizard species occurs on all the central and western islands, which were perhaps connected during periods of lower sea levels, while one species each occurs on six other more peripheral islands. Males and females of all Tropidurus species are marked differently. The male is usually much larger than the female, and its body is more brightly colored and distinctly patterned. Markings vary considerably, even within an individual species. Animals living mainly on dark lava are darker than ones which live in lighter, sandy environments. Like many lizards, they show changes of color with mood and temperature. Santiago is equivalent to Saint James in English; and its alternative name San Salvador refers to the island discovered by Columbus in the Caribbean Sea. Santiago Island has a maximum altitude of 907 metres (2976 feet). Human-introduced pigs and goats caused great harm to the endemic species, but have been subsequently eradicated (pigs in 2002; goats almost all eliminated).