Page 67 - World of Animals - Issue #31
P. 67
Wildlife of the Galapagos Islands
Short-eared owl
Magnificent frigatebird
Galapagos hawk One of the biggest species of
frigatebird, these Galapagos natives
Galapagos were first encountered by Christopher
prickly pear Columbus in 1492. They have a forked
tail and long, narrow wings. Their
plumage is brown-black and the male
uses its large red gular sac to attract
a mate. Females can be distinguished
by their white breast and belly.
Galapagos mockingbird
Galapagos giant tortoise
This huge reptile is one of the
two biggest giant tortoises
worldwide. The Galapagos
tortoise can weigh over 400
kilograms (880 pounds) – all the
more impressive as it can last
without food or water for up to
a year. When the islands were Blue-footed booby
discovered in the 16th century, The quirky blue-footed booby
they were named ‘Insulae de los has many uses for its colourful
Galopegos’, which translates as feet. The male can show them off
‘Islands of the Tortoises’. in a strut to attract the opposite
sex during mating rituals – the
bluer the colour, the more
attractive he seems. The webbed
feet also offer protection and
warmth for their young.
Marine iguana
Galapagos penguin Sally Lightfoot Marine iguanas are gentle
crab creatures that live on a diet of
underwater algae and seaweed,
scraped from rocks with their
teeth. They can cling to rocks
with their sharp claws and their
flattened tails allow them to
move through water. Their dark
grey colour ensures that they
absorb heat and maintain their
body temperature.
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