Marine Iguana

The Marine Iguana is classified as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands that has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to live and forage in the sea. More

The marine iguana is the only sea-going lizard. The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an endemic species to the Galapagos Islands, an archipelago of approximately 25,000 square miles located 600 to 700 miles west of Ecuador in equatorial waters (Carpenter 1966). More

Photo: A marine iguana basking in the sun ENLARGEWALLPAPER Found only on the Galápagos Islands, marine iguanas often wear distinctive white "wigs" of salt expelled from glands near their noses. More

Video: Marine iguanas in the Gal More

Marine iguanas are found all through the Galapagos Islands. Although the iguanas on each island look a little different and are different in size, they are all the same kind of iguana. More

Marine Iguanas are certainly among the most unusual creatures in the Galapagos. Charles Darwin made extensive observations on these large, lizard-like reptiles. They certainly well demonstrate the unique evolution and adaption of Galapagos fauna. More

Marine iguanas are vegetarians, feeding primarily on sea weed in the intertidal zone. The biggest individuals, typically males, however, will swim out past the breakers and feed underwater. Their dives are typically shallow, 1. More

On land, the marine iguana is rather a clumsy animal, but in the water it is a graceful swimmer, using its powerful tail to propel itself. More

Overview The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguanaIguanaIguana is a genus of lizard native to tropical areas of Central and South America and the Caribbean.. More

glance of a Marine Iguana, your first thoughts would probably be of a primitive dinosaur, with its dorsal crest and primitive features. The Marine Iguana appears slow and clumsy on land, but this particular species of lizard is the only sea-going lizard in the world. More

Marine Iguanas are between 50 and 100 cms (20 - 39 inches) in length and they weigh up to 10 kgs (22 lbs), although there is a vast size difference between the iguanas from different islands. More

Ecuador, marine iguanas remain abundant (though notably less so than 20 years ago), but all the individuals are mature adults as few young survive the predation by ferel cats. More

The marine iguana is a unique species. It is thought that they are the ancestors of land iguanas that arrived to the Galapagos millions of years ago after floating from mainland South America on rafts of vegetation or debris. More

Marine iguanas have also been found to change their size to adapt to varying food conditions. More

Marine iguanas are the only marine lizards on Earth. They are usually grey or black, but develop red or green patches in the mating season, probably from eating particular types of seaweed which are available then. More

Photo of marine iguanas on rocky beach - Click image to return to gallery Marine iguanas love to hang out together. More

Marine iguana, underwater, forages for green algae that grows on the lava reef, Amblyrhynchus cristatus, Bartolome Island Purchase A Print Of This ImageHow to request, purchase or license this imageAdd To Light Table Marine iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus, James Island Purchase A Print Of This More

As a cold blooded animal, the marine iguana can spend only a limited time in the cold sea, where it dives for algae. More

the arrival of man, marine iguanas only threats were that of larger fish and sharks encountered while swimming. When marine iguanas are not feeding they seek safety and warmth of the land. More

The Galapagos marine iguana is thought to have drifted to the islands on something like a log or mat of vegetation. More

Marine iguana, underwater, forages for green algae that grows on the lava reef. Image ID: 16227 Species: Marine iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus Location: Bartolome Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador Marine iguana. More

Swimming Marine IguanaGrowing to approximately 3 ft (1 m) in length these sea-going Iguanas exist only in the Galapagos Islands. Living on the black lava shore rocks they have developed into efficient swimmers feeding off shore mostly on marine algae and seaweed. More

Marine iguanas Amblyrhynchus cristatus is approached by Hood mockingbird Nesomimus macdonaldi - Location: Punta Suarez, Espa More

The marine iguana Amblyrhynchus cristatus is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. A. c. hassi is found on Santa Cruz Island and Caamaño Islet. Extent of occurrence is estimated at less than 100 km² and area of occupancy at less than 10 km². More

The marine iguana (Amblyrynchus cristatus) is the world's only seagoing lizard. Like other marine reptiles (except some sea snakes) it still must return to land to breed. However, it seems better adapted to life in the water. More

The much-maligned marine iguanas of the Galápagos Islands are so famously homely, even Charles Darwin piled on, describing them as "hideous-looking" and "most disgusting, clumsy lizards. More

declines in population, with high mortality, and the marine iguana is threatened by predation by exotic species. The total population size is unknown, but is, according to IUCN, at least 50,000, and estimates from the Charles Darwin Research Station are in the hundreds of thousands. More

The marine iguanas of the Genovesa Island are not longer than 45 cm (1.5 ft), while those of Cristobal Island are dark-gray. Those of Santa Cruz Island are yellowish-green. Zoologists consider there are about 50 subspecies of this iguana species. More

The marine iguana Amblyrhynchus cristatus of the Galápagos Islands is a skillful swimmer, and its black coloration helps it to warm its body after swimming in the cold ocean. More

Common names

Amblyrhynche à crête in French - français
Amblyrhynchus cristatus in French - français
Galapagos marine iguana in English - English
Haviguan in Norwegian - Norsk
Havsödla in Swedish - Svenska
Iguana marina in Catalan - Català
Iguana marina in Spanish - español
Iguana-marinha in Portuguese - Português
Iguane marin in French - français
Legwan morski in Polish - polski
Marine Iguana in English - English
Meerechse in German - Deutsch
Merileguaani in Finnish - suomen kieli
Sea iguana in English - English
Seelikkewaan in Afrikaans - Afrikaans
Tengeri leguán in Hungarian - Magyar
Zeeleguaan in Dutch - Nederlands
Игуана морская in Russian - русский язык
Морская игуана in Russian - русский язык
Морська ігуана in Ukrainian - українська мова
ზღვის ხვლიკი in Georgian - ქართული
איגואנה ימית in Hebrew - ‫עברית
ウミイグアナ in Japanese - 日本語