Wildlife on the Galapagos Islands
Find bacground information in our article What Darwin didn't know and in Map of the Galapagos
"You look at the incredible complexity of life and inevitably the question arises - what brought all of this into existence?" Michael Behe, Biochemist, Unlocking the Mystery of Life
Galapagos Hawk
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Blue-
Footed Boobie
Land
Iguana
Marine Iguanas
Galapagos Crab
Giant Tortoises - ET look-alikes?
Notice how the tortoise shells differ in these three variations. The higher shells allow the tortoise to reach up into the bushes for food to eat.
Sea Lions
Dad
Mom and Pup
Penguin
Galapagos Doves
Red-Footed Boobies
(notice the blue beak, especially on the juvenile below. Then watch the facial expression on the baby in the first three pictures)
Feed me!
Not that stick!
Did mom forget me?
Red-Footed Boobie Juveniles
Blue-Footed Boobies
To attract females, the male taps his feet (left, right, left, right...) then hoots while pointing his, beak, tail and wings to the sky.
The female paid little attention and finally walked away. But another female appeared, and the male continued his dance. The pictures on each side show him lifting his left foot in the air .
The female paid little attention and finally walked away. But another female appeared, and the male continued his dance. The pictures below show him lifting his left foot in the air .
This "juvenile" posed for us
while we photographed Daphne
Major, the island where most
of the research on finches
was done.
Masked Boobies
(with purple feet)
His feet are webbed and bright colored like those of his cousins above.
Notice the left foot up in the air. He, too, is doing the mating dance.
Just some friendly family squabbles.
The Frigate-bird
This large scavenger hovers high in sky, spying on sea birds below. When it sees another bird fly away with a fish in its beak, it swoops down after it and clutches its tail. The anxious victim (usually a boobie) drops its fish, and the speedy Frigatebird quickly soars down to catch it. It's not very nice, and it doesn't play fair!
Notice the males' large red pouch inflated to attract females.
The beautiful Tropicbird must fly directly into its nest. When it misses the spot, it can't stop on a nearby crag in the rocky sea wall. The little bird pictured here circled over our heads repeatedly before it finally hit its target and could feed its chicks. Notice its exquisite tail.
Albatross mom and juvenile
Underwater (snorkeling) pictures of giant Sea Turtles and sea lions
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Photographed from the main volcano on Bartolome Island (Notice the many craters on the various islands)
Cook (Island) Mockingbird
Sea Lion
"Then the Lord answered Job... 'Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding." Job 38:1-4
See also Job 38-42: The Creator reigns over all
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