Marina Iguana:

This water-loving lizard, which can dive to a depth of about 10 meters, is also the only lizard to look for food in sea water. This iguana species is also called “Galapagos Dragon” and “sea lizard”.

What do they eat ?

 Generally, males grow up to 1.5 meters and females up to 2 meters in length. Marine iguanas, which are herbivores despite their frighteningly sharp teeth, only have seaweed and algae on their menu.

They only live on the Galapagos Islands. The marine iguana is the only one of its kind and the only iguana living in a saltwater environment. 

The lifespan of iguanas is 15-20 years. They swim perfectly on water by extending their legs parallel to their body and using their tail.

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During the breeding season, the female emits a strong odor and attracts the males. The female can mate with more than one male. After mating, the female digs the soil and lays her eggs in the hole she dug and covers them. The female lays 3 to 9 eggs at a time.

This endemic species, which lives only in the Galapagos Islands in the world, is estimated to have evolved from the Black Iguana, which came to the island 4.5 million years ago with logs and debris poured into the sea. These creatures, which have managed to survive in a very harsh environment by eating only seaweed, have an appearance that many describe as “repulsive” with their heads covered with salt.

The only thing true is that marine iguanas are declining in numbers. Although the adult marine iguana has few predators thanks to the spines on its back, its young and hatchlings are highly vulnerable, their eggs and young have often been a food source for other creatures, and so the marine iguana will sadly be extinct for a few years. This incredible species, which is far from other ecosystems and can adapt to very harsh conditions, is worthy of protection.

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