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

2. 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.

3. Marine Iguana Land Iguana
National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site:
Land Iguana
(2006). Darwin & the Galapagos Islands. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Go Visit Galapagos Web site:

4. Marine Iguana Land Iguana
(Jan 3, 2007). Photos/Mixed Selection. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from Travelling, Sports Fishing & Photography Web site:
Land Iguana
(2007). Galapagos Pictures, Galapagos Wildlife. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from in-quito.com Galapagos Pictures Web site:

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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:
(2006). Darwin & the Galapagos Islands. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Go Visit Galapagos Web site:

8. Saddleback Tortoise Domed Tortoise
National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site:
Domed Tortoise
National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site:

9. Saddleback Tortoise Domed Tortoise
(2007). Galapagos Islands Guided Tour. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from AGalapagos Islands Guided Tour - Isla Santa Cruz, Ecuador Web site:
Domed Tortoise
(2006). Tortoise T-Shirts. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from JungleWalk.com Gifts for Animal Lovers Web site:

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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:
National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site:

13. Flightless Cormorant Cormorant
National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site:
Cormorant
National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site:

14. Flightless Cormorant Cormorant
(2007). Flightless Cormorant. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from ARKive: Images of Life on Earth Web site:
Cormorant
(2007). Cormorant Showing Off Photo. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from TrekNature Web site:

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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:
National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site:

18. 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.

19. 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.)