Rare Animals & Plants on the Island of Galapagos

A marine iguana found only on the Galapagos Islands.Meerechse auf Galapagos image by KatrinW from Fotolia.com

The Galapagos Islands remain a habitat for a number of rare and endangered animals and plants. Some plants and animals have evolved exclusively for the particular location and climate of the islands and are not found anywhere else in the world. Often, these animals and plants have become endangered because of human settlement and interaction with the environment, including the introduction of non-native animals.

Marine Iguanas

Marine iguanas, found exclusively on the Galapagos Islands, are the only lizards in the world that venture into the sea to feed. Although they might look scary to humans, they are algae-eating herbivores. Unlike terrestrial iguanas, marine iguanas have a gland behind their nostrils designed to remove accumulated salt from their bodies. Animals introduced to the islands, such as cats and dogs, prey on marine iguanas and threaten their existence as a species.

This endangered sea turtle species can be found only on the Galapagos Islands and their surrounding waters. The Galapagos green turtle gets its green color from its diet of algae. Non-native mammals, such as pigs, threaten the Galapagos green turtle because they destroy the turtles' nests and eat their eggs. Birds and sharks also hunt their young, so they remain extremely vulnerable.

This rare plant is a perennial herb with five-petaled flowers. Some have green leaves with white flowers, while others have purple leaves with pink flowers. The species, Calandrinia galapagosa, is endangered and grows on only one island of the Galapagos, San Cristobal. Goats and donkeys that humans have brought to the island graze on the plant and threaten its existence.