The Galapagos land Iguanas

Abstract

The Galapagos Land Iguana (genus Colonophus) differs significantly from the sea iguana, with a shorter tail, heavier body, and inability to swim. It lives in burrows dug in the soil, emerging mainly when the sun warms the earth to feed on fallen cactus pads, which provide both food and water. Unique to the Galapagos Islands, different species inhabit specific islands or even restricted areas within islands, posing a zoological mystery about how they dispersed despite their inability to swim. These iguanas are powerful vegetarians with strong jaws adapted to eating cactus, and unlike sea iguanas, they can be aggressive and bite. Capturing them requires skill, as they are wary and fast. Notably, young land iguanas are rarely seen, unlike their sea counterparts. The distribution and behavior of these iguanas remain an intriguing puzzle, reflecting the unique evolutionary history of the Galapagos fauna noted by Darwin.