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Witness the Marvel of Marine Iguanas Hatching
Marine iguanas are a sight to behold in the Galapagos, dark and mesmerizing in their skills. Seeing marine iguanas hatch is another fantastic sight to behold, as it serves as a constant reminder of this unique species’ persistence and progress. In this blog post, we’ll quickly look at one of the most fascinating kinds of Galapagos animals before discussing the brief but significant event of marine iguana hatching, which is taking place this May!
The Arrival of Adaptability
They are said to have floated from the continent of South America to the Galapagos Islands on rafts made of vegetation. However, how marine iguanas behave about their food makes them even more unusual. The predominant food source for this species is intertidal and subtidal algae. Marine iguanas don’t think twice about getting their feet wet.
These iguanas have developed blunt noses (to allow their mouths easier access to the algae that grows on rocks) and flattened tails to aid in swimming, reacting to the harsh sea environment that prevents them from obtaining as much algae as possible. Additionally, their limbs are strengthened with larger claws and greater muscle, which enables them to cling tenaciously to underwater rocks when the tide gets low.
In addition to being merciless, the chilly waters’ black hue directly results from the low temperatures. They can quickly absorb heat from the sun thanks to their dark scales, shortening the time it takes them to recuperate after emerging from the relatively cold waters of the Galapagos.
An Exclusive Event in the Galapagos: Marine Iguanas Hatching!
This momentous occasion takes a few years to occur in a marine iguana’s existence. Generally speaking, females reach sexual maturity between 3-5 years earlier than males. Males can mature between the ages of 6 and 8.
Size is a significant factor in the courtship process that female iguanas use to choose their mates; the more critical the male, the more probable it is that he will be selected. Females do not start nesting until one month after copulation (January to April) and usually lay one to six eggs. For the next three months, the eggs will be incubated under the sand at a depth of 30-80 cm (12-31 in).
To return for a moment to the idea of size, it is hypothesized that the selection of mates by females based on size contributes significantly to the production of larger hatchlings, which have a higher chance of surviving after emerging.
Hope Cracks Open
Hatchlings will be about 10 cm (4 in) long and weigh between 40 and 70 grams. It won’t be until they are two years old that these juvenile iguanas get their feet wet; by then, they will be big enough to swim. However, as soon as the young marine iguanas leave their nest, they immediately use their feet to go as far and fast as they can in search of cover. This instinct serves to protect them from potential predators. In the fascinating process of marine iguanas hatching, these juvenile sea iguanas frequently flee so swiftly that the front portion of their little bodies lifts, briefly causing them to walk on two feet!
Case in point: The following, hugely popular video by the BBC
Marine iguanas are common throughout the archipelago and can be seen on all of our Galapagos tours.
The giant marine iguanas are found in Northern Isabela and Fernandina, while the smallest and blackest are in Genovesa.
