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  • A lava lizard rests on the toothy grinning head of a dead Galápagos Sea Lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) carcass drying on Punta (Point) Espinoza on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. 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. Published in "Light Travel: Photography on the Go" book by Tom Dempsey 2009, 2010.
    09ECU-3547_Galapagos.jpg
  • Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur skeleton, 60% real bone (darker color), displayed at Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, Montana, USA. It stands 12 feet high and 38 feet long. The skull mounted on the skeleton is a full replica with lighter color indicating reconstructed elements, and brown representing the real elements of the actual skull, which is displayed in an adjacent box at eye level.
    20221007_105301.jpg
  • Camarasaurus femur (right thigh bone) at Dinosaur National Monument's Quarry, Utah, USA. Camarasaurus was a 4-legged herbivorous dinosaur up to 50 feet long, the most common giant sauropod (long-necked dinosaur) of North America. Its fossil remains have been found in the Morrison Formation of Colorado and Utah, dating to the late Jurassic Period (late Oxfordian to Tithonian stages), between 155 and 145 million years ago. The name means "chambered lizard", referring to the hollow chambers in its vertebrae. In Dinosaur National Monument, the popular Dinosaur Quarry displays a spectacular logjam of Jurassic dinosaur bones. The park is on the southeast flank of the Uinta Mountains straddling Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. Although most of the monument is in Moffat County, Colorado, the Dinosaur Quarry is in Utah near the town of Jensen, USA.
    1503SW-2211_Camarasaurus-thigh-bone.jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) eats algae from a rock at Puerto Egas, visited via a wet landing on Santiago (or San Salvador; or James Island), in the Galápagos Islands archipelago, a province of Ecuador, South America. The Marine Iguana is the world’s only sea-going lizard and is found only on the Galapagos Islands (spread throughout the archipelago). They feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. 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.
    09ECU-4270_Galapagos.jpg
  • The skin and bones of a dead Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) dry on Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    09ECU-3668_Galapagos.jpg
  • The Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) thrives on Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    09ECU-3613_Galapagos.jpg
  • Desert tortoise. 49 Palms Oasis Trail. Joshua Tree National Park, near the City of Twentynine Palms, California, USA. The park straddles the cactus-dotted Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, which is higher and cooler.
    20210328_104610.jpg
  • A juvenile chuckwalla (or chuckawalla): Sauromalus ater is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae. Fall Canyon, Death Valley National Park, California, USA.
    1804SW-3171.jpg
  • Common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana). Hike the Hermit Trail from Hermits Rest to Lookout Point. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA.
    1804SW-1823.jpg
  • Introduced to Hawaii, the gold dust day gecko (Phelsuma laticauda) is native to northern Madagascar and the Comoros. It is commonly known as the mascot of GEICO. This lizard photo is from Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden near Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii, USA..
    1701HAW-2448.jpg
  • In Dinosaur National Monument, the popular Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry displays a spectacular logjam of Jurassic dinosaur bones. A Camarasaurus vertebrae hugs a stegasaurus plate (left) and Apatosaurus bones (middle right). Stegosaurus means "covered lizard", a reference to its plates, which may have been used to protect its back from predators, to attract a mate, and/or to regulate body temperature. The plates contained blood vessels that could constrict or expand to regulate heat loss. Since the plates were not directly attached to the bones of the skeleton, they were easily separated from the body after death. Camarasaurus was a 4-legged herbivorous dinosaur up to 50 feet long, the most common giant sauropod (long-necked dinosaur) of North America. Its fossil remains have been found in the Morrison Formation of Colorado and Utah, dating to the late Jurassic Period (late Oxfordian to Tithonian stages), between 155 and 145 million years ago. Camarasaurus means "chambered lizard", referring to the hollow chambers in its vertebrae.
    1503SW-2198_Carnegie-Dinosaur-Quarry.jpg
  • Camarasaurus fossil skull in Morrison Formation at Dinosaur National Monument's Quarry, Utah, USA. Camarasaurus was a 4-legged herbivorous dinosaur up to 50 feet long, the most common giant sauropod (long-necked dinosaur) of North America. Its fossil remains have been found in the Morrison Formation of Colorado and Utah, dating to the late Jurassic Period (late Oxfordian to Tithonian stages), between 155 and 145 million years ago. The name means "chambered lizard", referring to the hollow chambers in its vertebrae. In Dinosaur National Monument, the popular Dinosaur Quarry displays a spectacular logjam of Jurassic dinosaur bones. The park is on the southeast flank of the Uinta Mountains straddling Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. Although most of the monument is in Moffat County, Colorado, the Dinosaur Quarry is in Utah near the town of Jensen, USA.
    1503SW-2192_Camarasaurus-skull.jpg
  • Found in 1924 at Carnegie Quarry in Dinosaur National Monument, this large fossil Allosaurus head from the Late Jurassic Period (149 million years ago) is one of the best-preserved skulls ever discovered. The theropod (meaning "beast-footed") dinosaurs are a diverse group of bipedal saurischian ("lizard-hipped") dinosaurs. Therapods include the largest carnivores ever to have walked the earth. Not all dinosaurs are extinct, since birds are actually the descendants of small nonflying theropods. In Dinosaur National Monument, the popular Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry displays a spectacular fossilized logjam of Jurassic dinosaur bones in Utah, USA.
    1503SW-2220_Allosaurus-skull.jpg
  • Collared Lizard (genus Crotaphytus) in Monument Canyon in Colorado National Monument, near Grand Junction and Fruita, Colorado, USA.
    1503SW-2008_Collared-Lizard_Crotaphy...jpg
  • Western whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris, or Tiger Whiptail) lizard in Monument Canyon in Colorado National Monument, Colorado, USA. This desert land is high on the Colorado Plateau dotted with pinion and juniper forests. This lizard ranges throughout most of southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
    1503SW-2083_Aspidoscelis-tigris_liza...jpg
  • Collared Lizard (genus Crotaphytus) in Monument Canyon in Colorado National Monument, near Grand Junction and Fruita, Colorado, USA.
    1503SW-2028_Collared-Lizard_Crotaphy...jpg
  • Lizard. Capitol Gorge, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA.
    1503SW-0181_lizard.jpg
  • A Blue-tongued skink mother gives birth to live young at Bonorong Wildlife Park, Briggs Road, Brighton, Tasmania, Australia. Its large blue tongue can startle or warn potential enemies. Blue-tongued skinks (or blue-tongued lizards, Tiliqua genus, Scincidae family) are found in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. The only species of blue-tongue native to Tasmania is Tiliqua nigrolutea. Most blue-tongue skinks are diurnal ground-foraging omnivores, feeding on a wide variety of insects, gastropods, flowers, fruits, and berries.
    04AUS-30189_mother-newborn-Blue-tong...jpg
  • A wild skink climbs a rock on Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range National Park, Western Australia. Stirling Range National Park was declared in 1913 and is now an ecological island in a sea of farmland. 1500 species of flora are packed within the park, more than in the entire British Isles. 123 orchid species grow here. 87 plant species found in the Stirling Range occur nowhere else on earth. The Stirling Range was born from river delta sediments deposited 1800-2000 million years ago (Palaeoproterozoic), then metamorphosed weakly into sandstone, quartzite, and shale rocks and deformed more than 1200 million years ago. Buried deep in the Earth's crust, today's Stirling Range was gradually exposed by weathering and erosion over time. Bluff Knoll is 337 km (4.5 hours drive) southeast of Perth and 100 km northeast of Albany via Chester Pass Road. An ideal time to visit is late spring and early summer (October to December), when days are beginning to warm up and the wildflowers are at their best. Winter, between June and August, is cold and wet. Allow three to four hours  to complete 5 km round trip on the Top Trail.
    04AUS-11128_skink.jpg
  • The jagged, sharp spine of a Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) displays red and greenish breeding colors on the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    94GAL-11-31_Sea-iguana-spines.jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) basks on rocks in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    94GAL-09-12_sea-iguana-rocks.jpg
  • A female Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) digs a nest in the Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    94GAL-04-13_female-sea-iguana-nest.jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) displays red and greenish breeding colors on the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    86GAL-11-23_Sea-Iguanas.jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) displays red and greenish breeding colors on the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    86GAL-10-09_Sea-Iguana.jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) displays red and cyan breeding colors on the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    86GAL-08-24_sea-iguana_head.jpg
  • The Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) thrives on Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    09EQUCIMG_3324_Galapagos.jpg
  • Galápagos giant tortoises attempt to mate (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) in a pool of water at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS, operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos islands, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    09ECU-5064_Galapagos.jpg
  • A Galápagos giant tortoise Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) enters a pool of water at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS, operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos islands, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    09ECU-5047_Galapagos.jpg
  • A Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) rests in a pool of water at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS, operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos islands, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    09ECU-5028_Galapagos.jpg
  • The Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) is bred at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS, operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos islands, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    09ECU-5007_Galapagos.jpg
  • The Santa Fe Galapagos Land Iguana (Conolophus pallidus) is exclusively native to Santa Fe Island and is one of two species of lizard in the genus Conolophus, in the Iguanidae family. The Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS, operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) runs an iguana breeding center in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, in the Galápagos archipelago, Ecuador, South America. The Santa Fe Galapagos Land Iguana is colored yellowish orange beneath a brownish-red back and tail. The Galapagos Land Iguana (genus Conolophus) is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, primarily the islands of Fernandina, Isabela, Santa Cruz, North Seymour, Hood and South Plaza.
    09ECU-4823_Galapagos.jpg
  • A Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) drinks water from a pool at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS, operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos islands, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    09ECU-4789_Galapagos.jpg
  • Galapagos Marine Iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) rest in a tide pool at Puerto Egas, which can be visited via a wet landing on Santiago (or San Salvador; or James Island), in the Galápagos Islands archipelago, a province of Ecuador, South America. The Marine Iguana is the world’s only sea-going lizard and is found only on the Galapagos Islands (spread throughout the archipelago). They feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. 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. Published in "Light Travel: Photography on the Go" book by Tom Dempsey 2009, 2010.
    09ECU-4256_Galapagos.jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) swims at Puerto Egas, which can be visited via a wet landing on Santiago (or San Salvador; or James Island), in the Galápagos Islands archipelago, a province of Ecuador, South America. The Marine Iguana is the world’s only sea-going lizard and is found only on the Galapagos Islands (spread throughout the archipelago). They feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. 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.
    09ECU-4222_Galapagos.jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) swims at Puerto Egas, which can be visited via a wet landing on Santiago (or San Salvador; or James Island), in the Galápagos Islands archipelago, a province of Ecuador, South America. The Marine Iguana is the world’s only sea-going lizard and is found only on the Galapagos Islands (spread throughout the archipelago). They feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. 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.
    09ECU-4171_Galapagos.jpg
  • The Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) thrives at Tagus Cove, on Isabela (Albemarle) Island, Ecuador, South America.  Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    09ECU-3750_Galapagos.jpg
  • The Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) thrives on Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    09ECU-3623_Galapagos.jpg
  • The Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) thrives on Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    09ECU-3559_Galapagos.jpg
  • A lava lizard mounts a Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) at Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus. Published in "Light Travel: Photography on the Go" book by Tom Dempsey 2009, 2010.
    09ECU-3557_Galapagos.jpg
  • The Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) thrives on Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    09ECU-3509_Galapagos.jpg
  • The Short-Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi) is often wrongly called a "Horned Toad" or "Horny Toad." Photo in Nankoweap Canyon, Arizona, USA.
    06AZ_5101-Short-horned-lizard.jpg
  • Desert spiny lizard. We had lunch at South Canyon at River Mile 31.8, while rafting through Marble Canyon on day 2 of 16 days boating 226 miles down the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA. Marble Canyon runs from Lees Ferry at River Mile 0 to the confluence with the Little Colorado River at Mile 62, which marks the beginning of the Grand Canyon. Although John Wesley Powell knew that no marble was found here when he named Marble Canyon, he thought the polished limestone looked like marble. In his words, "The limestone of the canyon is often polished, and makes a beautiful marble. Sometimes the rocks are of many colors – white, gray, pink, and purple, with saffron tints."
    2103SW-B0003.jpg
  • A bold sign "LEAVING TSUNAMI EVACUATION AREA" shows a person running from waves. Did you notice the bright green gecko clinging to the sign? Introduced to Hawaii, the gold dust day gecko (Phelsuma laticauda) is native to northern Madagascar and the Comoros. It is commonly known as the mascot of GEICO. Laupahoehoe Point County Park, on the Hamakua Coast, Big Island, Hawaii, USA.
    1701HAW-3156.jpg
  • A pet African Spurred Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata or Geochelone sulcata, or Grooved Tortoise) eats red hibiscus flowers in a yard in Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii, USA. It is the third largest tortoise in the world and the largest mainland tortoise. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) finds that the African Spurred Tortoise is Vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss (urbanization and over grazing by domestic livestock), being eaten by nomadic tribes, being used to make longevity potions in Japan, and being captured for the pet trade in Europe and North America. This desert-dwelling tortoise is native to the southern edge of the Sahara Desert from Senegal and Mauritania, east through Mali, Chad, the Sudan and Ethiopia, to Eritrea. Red hibiscus is native to tropical Asia, and is cultivated in Hawaii.
    1701HAW-0686.jpg
  • A pet African Spurred Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata or Geochelone sulcata, or Grooved Tortoise) eats red hibiscus flowers in a yard in Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii, USA. It is the third largest tortoise in the world and the largest mainland tortoise. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) finds that the African Spurred Tortoise is Vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss (urbanization and over grazing by domestic livestock), being eaten by nomadic tribes, being used to make longevity potions in Japan, and being captured for the pet trade in Europe and North America. This desert-dwelling tortoise is native to the southern edge of the Sahara Desert from Senegal and Mauritania, east through Mali, Chad, the Sudan and Ethiopia, to Eritrea. Red hibiscus is native to tropical Asia, and is cultivated in Hawaii.
    1701HAW-0693.jpg
  • Startiling crocodile sculpture on Shoreview Drive, Freeland, Whidbey Island, Washington, USA: "CROCODILES - NO SWIMMING" sign.
    1604WHI-311.jpg
  • Apatosaurus louisae leg bones cluster in a spectacular Jurassic logjam of fossils in the Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry at Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, USA. Later discoveries of so-called "Brontosaurus" bones are a misnomer, as all bones of this sauropod (long necked dinosaur) should now be labeled Apatosaurus. The only Apatosaurus skull in the world was found here in the Carnegie Quarry because the sand-sized sediment preserves bone in great detail without compressing its fragile bones.
    1503SW-2195_Apatosaurus-louisae-foss...jpg
  • Apatosaurus louisae leg bones in the Dinosaur Quarry at Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, USA. Later discoveries of so-called "Brontosaurus" bones are a misnomer, as all bones of this sauropod (long necked dinosaur) should now be labeled Apatosaurus. The only Apatosaurus skull in the world was found in the Carnegie Quarry because the sand-sized sediment preserves bone in great detail without compressing its fragile bones. In Dinosaur National Monument, the popular Dinosaur Quarry displays a spectacular logjam of Jurassic dinosaur bones. The park is on the southeast flank of the Uinta Mountains straddling Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. Although most of the monument is in Moffat County, Colorado, the Dinosaur Quarry is in Utah near the town of Jensen, USA.
    1503SW-2187_Apatosaurus-louisae-foss...jpg
  • The Quarry Exhibit Hall shelters the world-famous Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry in Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, USA. The Dinosaur Quarry displays a spectacular logjam of Jurassic dinosaur bones. The park is on the southeast flank of the Uinta Mountains straddling Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. Although most of the monument is in Moffat County, Colorado, the Dinosaur Quarry is in Utah near the town of Jensen. This panorama was stitched from 5 overlapping photos.
    1503SW-2179-83pan_Carnegie-Dinosaur-...jpg
  • Displayed at Quarry Exhibit Hall in Dinosaur National Monument, this Allosaurus fragilis skeleton is cast from bones of the Jurassic Period (149 million years ago) dug from the Cleveland-Lloyed Quarry in east-central Utah, USA. Allosaurus was the most common predatory animal in the Morrison Formation's ancient ecosystem.
    1503SW-2230_Allosaurus-cast-skeleton.jpg
  • Displayed at Quarry Exhibit Hall in Dinosaur National Monument, this Allosaurus fragilis skeleton is cast from bones of the Jurassic Period (149 million years ago) dug from the Cleveland-Lloyed Quarry in east-central Utah, USA. Allosaurus was the most common predatory animal in the Morrison Formation's ancient ecosystem. The theropod (meaning "beast-footed") dinosaurs are a diverse group of bipedal saurischian ("lizard-hipped") dinosaurs. Therapods include the largest carnivores ever to have walked the earth. Not all dinosaurs are extinct, since birds are actually the descendants of small nonflying theropods.
    1503SW-2229_Allosaurus-cast-skeleton.jpg
  • Young Camarasaurus skeleton at Dinosaur National Monument's Quarry, Utah, USA. Camarasaurus was a 4-legged herbivorous dinosaur which grew up to 50 feet long and was the most common giant sauropod (long-necked dinosaur) of North America. Its fossil remains have been found in the Morrison Formation of Colorado and Utah, dating to the late Jurassic Period (late Oxfordian to Tithonian stages), between 155 and 145 million years ago. The name means "chambered lizard", referring to the hollow chambers in its vertebrae. In Dinosaur National Monument, the popular Dinosaur Quarry displays a spectacular logjam of Jurassic dinosaur bones. The park is on the southeast flank of the Uinta Mountains straddling Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. Although most of the monument is in Moffat County, Colorado, the Dinosaur Quarry is in Utah near the town of Jensen, USA.
    1503SW-2213_Camarasaurus-skeleton.jpg
  • Collared Lizard (genus Crotaphytus) in Monument Canyon in Colorado National Monument, near Grand Junction and Fruita, Colorado, USA.
    1503SW-2011_Collared-Lizard_Crotaphy...jpg
  • Collared Lizard (genus Crotaphytus) in Monument Canyon in Colorado National Monument, near Grand Junction and Fruita, Colorado, USA.
    1503SW-2027_Collared-Lizard_Crotaphy...jpg
  • One of the many species of spiny lizard (genus Sceloporus) on Slickrock Foot Trail in Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA.
    1503SW-1203_spiny-lizard_Sceloporus.jpg
  • Watch for frequent Western Rattlesnakes on Imnaha River Trail, in Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Imnaha, Oregon, USA. Crotalus viridis (commonly known as the Western Rattlesnake, Prairie or Plains Rattlesnake) is a venomous pit viper native to the western United States, southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico. The Western Rattlesnake is common in much of eastern Washington, and is Washington's only venomous snake. A rattlesnake bite seldom delivers enough venom to kill a human, although painful swelling and discoloration may occur. Distinctive features of the Western Rattlesnake include a broad, triangular head that is much wider than its neck; a diamond-shaped pattern along the middle of its back; and rattles on the tail tip. Color patterns differ with habitat, ranging from olive to brown to gray. Black and white crossbars may occur on the tail. Western rattlesnakes measure 18 inches to 4 feet at maturity. The number of segments on the rattle does not indicate the true age of the snake, since rattlesnakes lose portions of their rattles as they age.
    1405OR-239.jpg
  • Watch for frequent Western Rattlesnakes on Imnaha River Trail, in Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Imnaha, Oregon, USA. Crotalus viridis (commonly known as the Western Rattlesnake, Prairie or Plains Rattlesnake) is a venomous pit viper native to the western United States, southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico. The Western Rattlesnake is common in much of eastern Washington, and is Washington's only venomous snake. A rattlesnake bite seldom delivers enough venom to kill a human, although painful swelling and discoloration may occur. Distinctive features of the Western Rattlesnake include a broad, triangular head that is much wider than its neck; a diamond-shaped pattern along the middle of its back; and rattles on the tail tip. Color patterns differ with habitat, ranging from olive to brown to gray. Black and white crossbars may occur on the tail. Western rattlesnakes measure 18 inches to 4 feet at maturity. The number of segments on the rattle does not indicate the true age of the snake, since rattlesnakes lose portions of their rattles as they age.
    1405OR-221.jpg
  • Blue-tongued skink, Bonorong Wildlife Park, Briggs Road, Brighton, Tasmania, Australia. Its large blue tongue can startle or warn potential enemies. Blue-tongued skinks (or blue-tongued lizards, Tiliqua genus, Scincidae family) are found in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. The only species of blue-tongue native to Tasmania is Tiliqua nigrolutea. Most blue-tongue skinks are diurnal ground-foraging omnivores, feeding on a wide variety of insects, gastropods, flowers, fruits, and berries.
    04AUS-30181_Blue-tongued-Skink.jpg
  • Cunningham's Skink (Egernia cunninghami) is native to southeastern Australia and can reach up to 30 cm in length. They vary from dark brown to black, with or without blotchy patches, speckles or narrow bands. It is a diurnal omnivore with its diet including insects, flowers, berries, fungi, leaves and young shoots. It gives birth to six or more live young in a litter. Photo is from Taronga Zoo, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia.
    04AUS-10184_Cunninghams-Skink.jpg
  • The Philippine Sailfin Lizard (or Soa-soa Water Lizard, Hydrosaurus pustulatus) is an egg-laying lizard endemic to the Philippines. It is an excellent swimmer with flattened toes that allow it to run across water. Males have a larger crest on their back than females. Females are less colorful. Taronga Zoo, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia.
    04AUS-10181_Sailfin-lizard-Philippin...jpg
  • New Zealand Tuatara (Genus: Sphenodon), Taronga Zoo, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The two species of tuatara are the only surviving members of its order Sphenodontia, which flourished around 200 million years ago. Although sometimes called "living fossils," they have changed significantly since the Mesozoic era. Tuatara share a common ancestor with the squamates (lizards and snakes) and are of great interest in the study of the evolution of lizards, snakes, and diapsids (dinosaurs, birds, and crocodiles). Tuatara are greenish brown, and measure up to 80 cm (31 in) from head to tail-tip and weigh up to 1.3 kilograms (2.9 lb) with a spiny crest along the back, especially pronounced in males. Their dentition, in which two rows of teeth in the upper jaw overlap one row on the lower jaw, is unique among living species. They have an unusual photo-receptive "third eye," can hear without an external ear, and have skeletal features apparently evolved from fish. Tuatara, like many of New Zealand's native animals, are threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators like the Polynesian Rat.
    04AUS-10172_New-Zealand-Tuatara-livi...jpg
  • An Aldabra giant tortoise grazes at Taronga Zoo, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. This species (Aldabrachelys gigantean or Dipsochelys dussumieri) is one of the largest tortoises in the world and is from the islands of Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, plus the islands of Zanzibar, Mauritius, and Rodrigues.
    04AUS-10103_Aldabra-Tortoise.jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) displays red and greenish breeding colors on the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    94GAL-11-24_sea-iguana-claws.jpg
  • Galápagos giant tortoises (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) live on the rim of Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands. In 1959, Ecuador declared 97% of the land area of the Galápagos Islands to be Galápagos National Park, which UNESCO registered as a World Heritage Site in 1978. Ecuador created the Galápagos Marine Reserve in 1998, which UNESCO appended in 2001.
    86GAL-16-33_Tortoises_Alcedo-Volcano.jpg
  • Under a prickly pear cactus tree, a giant Galapagos Tortoise fully extends its legs and neck in a cleaning posture for finches to remove parasites at Charles Darwin Research Station, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands. In 1959, Ecuador declared 97% of the land area of the Galápagos Islands to be Galápagos National Park, which UNESCO registered as a World Heritage Site in 1978. Ecuador created the Galápagos Marine Reserve in 1998, which UNESCO appended in 2001. Published in Wilderness Travel 1990 Catalog.
    86GAL-09-16_Galapagos-Tortoise-prick...jpg
  • Under a prickly pear cactus tree, tourists encourage a giant Galapagos Tortoise to fully extends its legs and neck in a cleaning posture for finches to preen parasites, at Charles Darwin Research Station, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. The Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly called Geochelone elephantopus) is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands. In 1959, Ecuador declared 97% of the land area of the Galápagos Islands to be Galápagos National Park, which UNESCO registered as a World Heritage Site in 1978. Ecuador created the Galápagos Marine Reserve in 1998, which UNESCO appended in 2001. For licensing options, please inquire.
    86GAL-09-14_Galapagos-Tortoise-peopl...jpg
  • A Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly called Geochelone elephantopus) fully extends its legs and neck in a cleaning posture for finches to preen parasites at Charles Darwin Research Station, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    86GAL-09-11_Galapagos-giant-tortoise.jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) displays red and yellow breeding colors on the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    86GAL-05-18_Sea-Iguana.jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) displays red and greenish breeding colors on the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    86GAL-00_green-red-Sea-Iguana.jpg
  • A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) grazes underwater at Tagus Cove, on Isabela (Albemarle) Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. The "green sea turtle" name comes from its greenish fat and flesh. The hues of its shell range from olive-brown to black in Eastern Pacific green turtles. The green turtle belongs to the family Cheloniidae and is the only species in the genus Chelonia. The species lives in tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It has a flattened body covered by a large, teardrop-shaped carapace and a pair of large, paddle-like flippers. Unlike other members of its family such as the hawksbill and loggerhead turtles, Chelonia mydas is mostly herbivorous (plant eating). The adults are commonly found in shallow lagoons, feeding mostly on various species of seagrass. In 1959, Ecuador declared 97% of the land area of the Galápagos Islands to be Galápagos National Park, which UNESCO registered as a World Heritage Site in 1978. Ecuador created the Galápagos Marine Reserve in 1998, which UNESCO appended in 2001. Published in "Light Travel: Photography on the Go" by Tom Dempsey 2009, 2010.
    09EQUCIMG_3436_Galapagos.jpg
  • A girl rides a tortoise sculpture in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on Isla San Cristóbal (Chatham Island), which is the easternmost island in the Galápagos archipelago, and one of the oldest geologically. Ecuador, South America. The Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly called Geochelone elephantopus) can grow a shell up to about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long (smaller than this supersized sculpture). Published in "Light Travel: Photography on the Go" book by Tom Dempsey 2009, 2010.
    09ECU-5545_tortoise-girl_f10_Galapag...jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) basks at Suaraz Point, a wet landing on Española (Hood) Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. The Marine Iguana is the world’s only sea-going lizard and is found only on the Galapagos Islands. They feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island.
    09ECU-5160_Galapagos.jpg
  • The Galápagos giant tortoise Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) is bred at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS, operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos islands, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    09ECU-5044_Galapagos.jpg
  • A Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) eats leaves at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS, operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos islands, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    09ECU-4853_Galapagos.jpg
  • A Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) rests its long neck by a pool of water at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS, operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos islands, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    09ECU-4851_Galapagos.jpg
  • A Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) regards another at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS, operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos islands, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    09ECU-4848_Galapagos.jpg
  • A Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) drinks water at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS, operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos islands, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.  In 1959, Ecuador declared 97% of the land area of the Galápagos Islands to be Galápagos National Park, which UNESCO registered as a World Heritage Site in 1978. Ecuador created the Galápagos Marine Reserve in 1998, which UNESCO appended in 2001.
    09ECU-4777_Galapagos.jpg
  • A Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) eats grass on Rancho Primicias next to El Chato Tortoise Reserve, in the highlands near Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos archipelago, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    09ECU-4700_Galapagos.jpg
  • A bus stops for a Galápagos giant tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus; or Geochelone nigra) on Rancho Primicias next to El Chato Tortoise Reserve, in the highlands near Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos archipelago, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    09ECU-4696_Galapagos.jpg
  • This Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is at Puerto Egas, visited via a wet landing on Santiago (or San Salvador; or James Island), in the Galápagos Islands archipelago, a province of Ecuador, South America. The Marine Iguana is the world’s only sea-going lizard and is found only on the Galapagos Islands (spread throughout the archipelago). They feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. 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. Published in "Light Travel: Photography on the Go" book by Tom Dempsey 2009, 2010.
    09ECU-4293_Galapagos.jpg
  • Galapagos Marine Iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) rest in a tide pool at Puerto Egas, which can be visited via a wet landing on Santiago (or San Salvador; or James Island), in the Galápagos Islands archipelago, a province of Ecuador, South America. The Marine Iguana is the world’s only sea-going lizard and is found only on the Galapagos Islands (spread throughout the archipelago). They feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. 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.
    09ECU-4250_Galapagos.jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) rests in a tide pool at Puerto Egas, which can be visited via a wet landing on Santiago (or San Salvador; or James Island), in the Galápagos Islands archipelago, a province of Ecuador, South America. The Marine Iguana is the world’s only sea-going lizard and is found only on the Galapagos Islands (spread throughout the archipelago). They feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. 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.
    09ECU-4233_Galapagos.jpg
  • The Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) thrives on Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus. In 1959, Ecuador declared 97% of the land area of the Galápagos Islands to be Galápagos National Park, which UNESCO registered as a World Heritage Site in 1978. Ecuador created the Galápagos Marine Reserve in 1998, which UNESCO appended in 2001.
    09ECU-3596_Galapagos.jpg
  • The Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) thrives on Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus. In 1959, Ecuador declared 97% of the land area of the Galápagos Islands to be Galápagos National Park, which UNESCO registered as a World Heritage Site in 1978. Ecuador created the Galápagos Marine Reserve in 1998, which UNESCO appended in 2001.
    09ECU-3564_Galapagos.jpg
  • A lava lizard mounts a Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) at Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    09ECU-3555_Galapagos.jpg
  • The Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) thrives on Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    09ECU-3551_Galapagos.jpg
  • A lava lizard mounts a Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) at Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus.
    09ECU-3534_Galapagos.jpg
  • People regard a mass of Galapagos Marine Iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) on Punta (Point) Espinoza, on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Marine Iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard species, are found nowhere else on earth. Marine Iguanas feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus. In 1959, Ecuador declared 97% of the land area of the Galápagos Islands to be Galápagos National Park, which UNESCO registered as a World Heritage Site in 1978. Ecuador created the Galápagos Marine Reserve in 1998, which UNESCO appended in 2001.
    09ECU-3518_Galapagos.jpg
  • A lizard clings to a wall of Dry Fork Coyote Gulch in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA. We hiked from the Lower Trailhead of Dry Fork Coyote Gulch to the slot canyons of Peekaboo Gulch and Spooky Gulch, looping back via Dry Fork (5.7 miles round trip) to a bench trail. (Instead, I recommend starting at the Upper Trailhead, to cover similar mileage, to further transit the coolness of Dry Fork, and to save 10 minutes of side road driving time.)
    20.10US1-0141.jpg
  • A juvenile chuckwalla (or chuckawalla): Sauromalus ater is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae. Fall Canyon, Death Valley National Park, California, USA.
    1804SW-3159.jpg
  • Crocodile sculpture on a mailbox. Freeland, Whidbey Island, Washington, USA.
    1604WHI-317.jpg
  • A Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra, formerly Geochelone elephantopus) attacks another at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS, operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation) in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos islands, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.
    09ECU-4806_Galapagos.jpg
  • A Galapagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) opens its mouth at Puerto Egas, visited via a wet landing on Santiago (or San Salvador; or James Island), in the Galápagos Islands archipelago, a province of Ecuador, South America. The Marine Iguana is the world’s only sea-going lizard and is found only on the Galapagos Islands (spread throughout the archipelago). They feed almost exclusively on marine algae, expelling the excess salt from nasal glands while basking in the sun, coating their faces with white. Marine Iguanas live on the rocky shore or sometimes on mangrove beaches or marshes. Most adults are black, some grey, and the young have a lighter colored dorsal stripe. The somber tones allow the species to rapidly absorb the warm rays of the sun to minimize the period of lethargy after emerging from the frigid water, which is cooled by the Humboldt Current. Breeding-season adult males on the southern islands are the most colorful and will acquire reddish and teal-green colors, while Santa Cruz males are brick red and black, and Fernandina males are brick red and dull greenish. The iguanas living on the islands of Fernandina and Isabela (named for the famous rulers of Spain) are the largest found anywhere in the Galápagos. The smallest iguanas are found on Genovesa Island. 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.
    09ECU-4192_Galapagos.jpg
  • San Teodoro/St. Theodore's Statue in Piazzetta San Marco represents one of Venice's two patron saints, in Venezia, Veneto, Italy, Europe. Its granite column was erected in the 1200s. Saint Theodore, who was the patron of the city before St Mark, holds a spear and stands on a crocodile representing the dragon which he was said to have slain. Venice (Venezia), founded in the 400s AD, is capital of Italy’s Veneto region, named for the ancient Veneti people from the 900s BC. The romantic City of Canals stretches across 100+ small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea, between the mouths of the Po and Piave Rivers. The Republic of Venice was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, a staging area for the Crusades, and a major center of art and commerce (silk, grain and spice trade) from the 1200s to 1600s. The wealthy legacy of Venice stands today in a rich architecture combining Gothic, Byzantine, and Arab styles. Venice and the Venetian Lagoon are honored on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
    13ITA-10366_Venice-Italy.jpg
  • The Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), an endangered species found in West Africa, rarely attacks humans. Photographed in the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Washington, USA.
    0809ZOO-161.jpg
  • The Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus) is found in the rainforests of South America, in the the Amazon Basin region of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, northern Bolivia, Brazil, and from Venezuela to Surinam and the Guianas within the Northern Shield. It is green to camouflauge itself against predators. The color pattern typically consists of an emerald green ground color with a white irregular interrupted zigzag stripe or so-called 'lightning bolts' down the back and a yellow belly. Juveniles vary in colour between various shades of light and dark orange or brick-red before ontogenetic coloration sets in and the animals turn emerald green (after 9-12 months of age). The are not venomous, and instead kill small animals by constriction, for food. Photographed in the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Washington.
    0809ZOO-174.jpg
  • Northern Pacific Rattlesnake. Of the people bitten by rattlers in the USA, very few die, less than 1 percent. In Washington state, no one has died of a rattlesnake bit in the last 40 years. Photographed in the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Washington, USA.
    0809ZOO-156.jpg
  • The Komodo dragon (or Komodo monitor, Varanus komodoensis) is the world's largest lizard, and a powerful, intelligent meat-eater, endangered, living on a few islands in the South Pacific. Komodo Island residents call this animal ora. Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Washington, USA.
    0809ZOO-108.jpg
  • See a carved stone copy of the Raimondi Stela outdoors at Chavin de Huantar archeological site, in the northern Andean highlands of Peru, South America. The 3,000-year-old stela (or stele) design is carved in the image of a god, possibly the main god worshiped in the New Temple of Chavín de Huántar, the "Staff Bearing God," which covers the bottom third of the stone. The upper two thirds is a head dress. The engraved design is one of the finest examples of contour rivalry, an artistic technique in which the image changes depending on point of view. From one point of view, see an image of a fearsome deity holding two staffs, but upside down see a smiling reptile and a stacked row of smiling, fanged faces. Italian archaeologist Antonio Raimondi found the stela in the hut of a peasant in Callejon de Conchucos in 1874. Go to the Museo Nacional de Arqueologia e Antropologia in Lima to see the original Raimondi Stela, made of highly polished granite seven feet high, dating from 1000 BC. The major pre-Inca culture of Chavín created the first widespread, recognizable artistic style in the Andes during their advanced civilization from 900 BC to 200 BC, and extended their influence to other receptive civilizations along the coast. Chavin de Huantar is east of the Cordillera Blanca at 3180 meters elevation (10,430 ft) at the head of Conchucos Valley, a long day trip by car from Huaraz. UNESCO honored Chavin Archaeological Site on the World Heritage List in 1985.
    03PER-22-32_Raimondi-Stela_Chavin.jpg
  • 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).
    09ECU-4158_Galapagos.jpg
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