LAND IGUANA
They are small but long reptiles found on the islands; they are often described as “mini-dragons” due to their prehistoric appearance. They have long claws, a crest along their heads that run along their backs and a narrow head. The skin has a dry aspect and varies of yellow and brownish tones. They can grow up to a meter long with an average weight of 13 kilograms.
There are two land iguanas in the Galapagos, the ‘Conolophus subcristatus’ which is native to six islands, and ‘Conolophus pallidus’ which can only found on Santa Fe Island (the Santa Fe iguana). They have adapted to live in arid areas by eating prickly cactus (including the spines) as their primary source of water and food. To conserve energy, they are slow movers and tend to rest in the same spot as a place for shade and to maintain heat at night.
They can be seen in our land excursions on our itineraries A, B, and C of the Galapagos Legend and the Corals.
