Galapagos Fauna

Marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) - the only sea-going lizard in the world, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.


Galapagos flightless cormorant (Nannopterum harrisi) drying his wings, endemic to Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

So many, so different

In the Galapagos, the sheer quantity and variety of life forms both on land and in the water is quite overwhelming. The archipelago is not only home to some of the largest colonies of seabirds anywhere on earth; it is also most famous for its exceptional levels of endemism.

Although many of the animals and plants that thrive here resemble their mainland ancestors, most evolved so extensively in isolation that they are now classed as distinct species. In fact, 40% of the 5,000 species found in the Galapagos are unique to the islands.

  • Know more about the Galapagos Fauna from the Galapagos Conservation Trust website

Land animals galore
A stunning number of animal species live on the Galapagos, and many of these are found nowhere else on earth. Twenty of the 22 types of reptiles which inhabit the archipelago are endemic and some are actually further restricted to individual islands.

Twenty-two of the 29 land birds that nest here are exclusive to the area, as are 5 of the 9 resident species of seabirds. High levels of endemism apply throughout the fauna of the islands, from Darwin's finches to Lonesome George, the giant tortoise.

As well as being unique, many species occur in great concentrations. In the Galapagos, land iguanas line the cacti, whilst birds nest behind each suitable rock; in fact, it is not uncommon to see as many as 750,000 seabirds in the same area at one time.

Marine miracles
With such extraordinary lands and skies, it will come as no surprise that the underwater world of the Galapagos is no less species-rich. The geographical location of the archipelago, at the confluence of warm and cold waters, makes for astonishing diversity.

Here some 300 species of fish - 23% of which are endemic - swim alongside 7 species of sharks - 1 of which is endemic - rays, turtles, penguins and marine iguanas, and above urchins, sea cucumbers, crabs, anemones, sponges and corals.




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