Galapagos Islands Animals
Around here, Galapagos Islands animals rule the land. Humans are just visitors, for the most part, on these islands known for their spectacular array of wildlife. Galapagos Islands animals range from the famous giant tortoise to the tiny delicate finch, of which there are dozens of species. Charles Darwin studied the finches and discovered how animals evolve according to environment. After the Galapagos Islands were formed millions of years ago from volcanoes, wildlife slowly arrived by air and by sea. The islands are isolated, providing an ideal spot for a quick expansion and involvement of species. Creatures arriving here adapted to the conditions of the tiny islands, and evolved into what we call endemic species. They actually evolved into species separate from those on the mainland. An endemic species is one that is found only in one location. There are plenty of these on the Galapagos Islands, to say the least!  |
These days visitors to the Galapagos Islands will find a unique display of beautiful and fascinating species. In fact, people from all over the world come here mainly to observe the wildlife. The islands really are a one of a kind place on the planet. We humans have only known about this magical area since the sixteenth century, when we first arrived by accident. People from Panama were the first to witness Galapagos Islands wildlife. Until the arrival of Charles Darwin in 1835, the world considered the Galapagos Islands just a way point for hiding and ambushing enemy ships. Darwin's careful observations of the finches here alerted the world to the workings of nature and laid the groundwork for our understanding of evolution today. His disciplined scientific mind and naturally inquisitive mind led to his theories of natural selection, also known as survival of the fittest.
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Since tens of thousands of visitors travel to the Galapagos Islands every year to see the wildlife for themselves, we thought you might appreciate a basic guide to Galapagos Islands animals. Some of the most famous of the local inhabitants include the cute blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, and of course our superstar, the Galapagos tortoise. Let's not forget the giant iguanas and sea lions, too. If you snorkel or scuba, you'll find a healthy plenitude of fish, turtles, rays, and turtles.
To learn more about Galapagos Islands animals, marine life, birds and reptiles, visit our wildlife pages and see for yourself why we think this is nature's paradise.