Galapagos Adaptations Exploring how species have adapted to their island environments over time.

Galapagos Animal Gallery The paired photographs you will see depict similar animals of the same size. Compare these images carefully. List any differences you notice, no matter how small. Briefly describe each animal’s habitat and diet.

Marine Iguana Land Iguana National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http://pubs.nsta.org/galapagos/activities/gallery/gallery2.html Land Iguana (2006). Darwin & the Galapagos Islands. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Go Visit Galapagos Web site: http://www.govisitgalapagos.com/darwin/default.asp

Marine Iguana Land Iguana (Jan 3, 2007). Photos/Mixed Selection. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from www.CQJ.dk Travelling, Sports Fishing & Photography Web site: http://www.cqj.dk/mix-photo-eng.htm Land Iguana (2007). Galapagos Pictures, Galapagos Wildlife. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from in-quito.com Galapagos Pictures Web site: http://www.in-quito.com/galapagos/pictures-2.htm

Marine Iguana Is the only sea-going iguana in the world Flat tail Square nose Dark coloration Partially webbed feet Coloration camouflages them in the dark lava on which they live Enables iguanas of all ages to absorb more heat from the sun

Land Iguana A large relative of the South American and Caribbean terrestrial iguana Round tail Pointed nose Brownish-red in color on top Yellow-orange underneath Eats grass and other ground plants, especially the large prickly-pear cactus.

Marine Iguana Land Iguana vs. Lives near the water Lives in dry regions on land Long claws for gripping rocks Short claws Short snout Long snout Dark color Light color National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http://pubs.nsta.org/galapagos/activities/gallery/gallery2.html (2006). Darwin & the Galapagos Islands. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Go Visit Galapagos Web site: http://www.govisitgalapagos.com/darwin/default.asp

Saddleback Tortoise Domed Tortoise National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http://pubs.nsta.org/galapagos/activities/gallery/gallery2.html Domed Tortoise National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http://pubs.nsta.org/galapagos/activities/gallery/gallery2.html

Saddleback Tortoise Domed Tortoise (2007). Galapagos Islands Guided Tour. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from AGalapagos Islands Guided Tour - Isla Santa Cruz, Ecuador Web site: http://www.discovergalapagos.com/santacru.html Domed Tortoise (2006). Tortoise T-Shirts. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from JungleWalk.com Gifts for Animal Lovers Web site: http://www.junglewalk.com/shop/Tortoise-t-shirts.htm

Saddleback Tortoise One of the major groups of giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands Arched carapace (shell) in the front Long legs Long snout Long neck that allows it to reach for its food high above the ground Found in the dry areas of Espanola, Pinzon, Pinta, and Fernandina Islands

Domed Tortoise One of the major groups of giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands Rounded shell Blunt snout Shorter neck Found on islands with rich vegetation (like Santa Cruz and Isabela) Larger and heavier Rounded shell allows it to move through the thick vegetation more easily than the saddleback tortoise

Saddleback Tortoise Domed Tortoise vs. Lives in an area of thick vegetation Lives in dry region Eats leaves high in trees Eats grasses and leaves close to ground Highly arched shell opening Low, rounded shell opening Short neck Long neck Short legs Long legs National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http://pubs.nsta.org/galapagos/activities/gallery/gallery2.html National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http://pubs.nsta.org/galapagos/activities/gallery/gallery2.html

Flightless Cormorant Cormorant National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http://pubs.nsta.org/galapagos/activities/gallery/gallery2.html Cormorant National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http://pubs.nsta.org/galapagos/activities/gallery/gallery2.html

Flightless Cormorant Cormorant (2007). Flightless Cormorant. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from ARKive: Images of Life on Earth Web site: http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Phalacrocorax_harrisi/ Cormorant (2007). Cormorant Showing Off Photo. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from TrekNature Web site: http://www.treknature.com/gallery/North_America/Canada/photo45462.htm

Flightless Cormorant Found only in the Galapagos Dark with black coloration above and brown underneath Streamlined body, thick neck, larger beak Strong legs Sparsely feathered vestigial wings The wings are small and useless for flight Webbed feet Uses its strong legs and webbed feet to swim and capture fish, eels, and octopuses

Cormorant 28 other living species of cormorants, all of which use their wings for flight Well-developed wing muscles, making their bodies thicker than the flightless cormorant Legs are much more refined because they do not use them for swimming that much Eat mainly fish Thin neck, smaller beak

Flightless Cormorant vs. Cormorant Found only in the Galapagos Not found in the Galapagos Long, well-developed wings Small, vestigial wings Streamlined body for swimming Heavier body Thick, strong legs for swimming Slender Legs National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http://pubs.nsta.org/galapagos/activities/gallery/gallery2.html National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http://pubs.nsta.org/galapagos/activities/gallery/gallery2.html

Looking at Habitat Adaptations Choose one animal from each pair. Explain how the traits you observed may help the animal survive or thrive in its habitat. Give at least three examples of different traits and explain each one.

Final Questions How have isolation and the unique conditions of the Galapagos Islands given rise to the unusual features of Galapagos animals? Would they survive if they were introduced into similar ecosystems elsewhere in the world? What kind of adaptations would allow existing Galapagos animals to survive in other habitats around the world? (Remember, organisms can’t adapt because they want to or need to.)