The much-maligned marine iguanas
of the Galápagos Islands are so famously homely, can be describing as
"hideous-looking" and "most disgusting, clumsy lizards." In
fact the iguanas are not pretty with their wide set eyes, ugly in faces, spiky
dorsal scales, and knotty, salt-encrusted heads. The marine iguana has the ability, unique
among modern lizards, to forage in the sea, can dive, more than 30 feet into
the water. It is sometimes called Galápagos marine iguana lives on the rocky
Galápagos shore but also be spotted in marshes and mangrove beaches. Marine
iguanas are medium-sized lizards almost 200 to 340 mm, however vary in body
size, which is different depending on the island the individual iguana
inhabits. The adult males weigh is falling between 12 to 13 kg vary due to
algal productivity and sea surface temperature
Though, these strange creatures
lack in looks they make up for with their astonishing and exclusive ecological
adaptations. Scientists have different thoughts that land-dwelling iguanas from
South America have drifted out to sea millions of years ago on logs or other
debris ultimately landing on the Galapagos.
Indeed their appearance is fierce, in contrast of actually having gentle
herbivores, surviving exclusively on underwater algae and seaweed. Marine
iguanas are sexually dimorphic with adult males weighing around 70% more than
adult females and have correlation between longevity and body size. The large
adult males’ body size is selected sexually, suffering higher mortality than
females and smaller adult males. The Amblyrhynchus cristatus lacks agility on
land but is a graceful swimmer, and mortality rates are, in fact, explained
through the size difference between the sexes.
The species emerged marine
iguanas spread to nearly all of islands of archipelago, hosts marine iguanas of
exclusive size and shape and color. Moreover, the strange creature’s short, blunt
snouts and small, razor-sharp teeth help them scrape the algae off rocks and
flattened tails let them move crocodile like through the water. Even though,
their claws are long enough and sharp for clinging to rocks on shore or
underwater in heavy currents. The
population of ugly lizard is not confirmed yet but can be judge in hundreds of
thousands. The marine iguana starts reproduction in cold and dry season; female
marine iguanas sexual maturity starts 3 to 5 years, however male reach sexual
maturity at the age of 6 to 8 years. Female laid eggs 1 to 6 and which takes 3
months to incubate. The eggs lays in nests dug 30 to 80 cm deep in in sand or
volcanic ash.
The iguanas has dark gray
coloring to better absorb sunlight after their forays into the frigid Galapagos
waters. Therefore, they even have distinct glands that clean their blood of
extra salt, which they ingest while feeding.
The specie is under continuous pressure from non-native predators like
rats, feral cats, and dogs, who feed on their eggs and young. They are endangered
throughout the archipelago and are considered vulnerable to extinction. Marine
iguanas sneeze habitually to expel salt from glands close their noses. The salt
often lands on their heads, giving them a unique white wig. The marine iguana
forages exclusively on inter- and subtidal algae, and 4-5 red algal species are
their food of choice, however varies in accordance to the algal abundance,
preferences and foraging behavior.
The marine iguana is an ectothermic animal,
spends limited time in cold water, and afterwards basks in the sun to warm up.
Their dark color shades also support them in heat reabsorption. Moreover, the
specie fights sometime during the breeding season but are usually harmless; and
they’ll bob their heads as a threat and if the other suitor responds, both will
thrust their heads together until one backs away. The Marine Iguana is
presently labeled as vulnerable in its conservation status and its population
has been gradually decreasing throughout the years due to natural predators
defenses needed to help protect them against new enemies. The marine iguana has
developed over time in a fairly safe environment and thus does not have a very
strong immune system. Source: Charismatic Planet
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