The Galapagos Islands are
home to some of the most exotic fauna, birds, reptiles
and marine life seen anywhere in the world. Included in
these are hundreds of different species of fauna, birds,
reptiles and marine life seen nowhere else apart from
the Galapagos Islands. However, one reason why most people
want to go on a Galapagos Islands tour is to do some scuba-diving
and snorkelling. And, the reason why scuba-diving and
snorkelling are so popular in particular, is due in no
small part to the rich diversity of marine mammals that
can be seen in the waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands.
The Galapagos Marine Iguana
The marine iguana found in the Galapagos Islands is one
of the most unusual forms of marine life you'll have the
chance to see on a Galapagos tour. The marine iguana is
the only iguana in the world that is known to go into
the sea. Once in the water, the Galapagos marine iguana
will dive at least fifteen meters below sea-level where
it will stay and eat the seaweed for anything up to thirty
minutes before surfacing.
Galapagos Sea Lions
Another of the spectacular marine mammals of the Galapagos
Islands is the Galapagos Islands sea lion (Galapagos_sea_lion_pups.jpg).
Although they're found all around the Galapagos Islands,
if you venture over to South Plazza, Santa Fe, Rabida,
Santiago Island, San Cristobel or Isabela Island you'll
find you have the chance to do some diving and swimming
with the sea lions that congregate in the rocks along
the coastline. Likely as not, you'll also have the chance
to see some of the male Galapagos Islands sea lions patrolling
the pack of females and cubs (usually in groups of thirty
or more).
Mating season for the Galapagos Islands sea lions is between
May and January of each year, and during this time you'll
see the domed fore-headed males keeping a very watchful
eye on their females.
Galapagos Islands Fur Seals
These days you need to travel to either Santiago Island
or Puerto Egas if you want to include the Galapagos fur
seals among your itinerary of marine mammals of the Galapagos
Islands as hunting of these mammals have driven them near
to extinction. However, much smaller than the Galapagos
seal lions, the fur seals, with their pointed noses and
large rounded moist eyes, are far too cute a sight not
to make the trip! Keep in mind though that these are an
endangered species, so please don't touch - no matter
how tame and playful they may seem.
Whale Watching in the Galapagos Islands
No tour of the Galapagos Islands would be complete without
taking the opportunity to sightsee some of the whale species
that can be found in the waters surrounding the islands.
If this sounds particularly attractive to you, make your
way over to Fernandina and Isabela islands, where, hopefully,
you'll have the chance to see some Brydes. Pilot, Minke,
Blue and Cuviers whales!
Penguin
Living north of the equator, the Galapagos Islands penguin
is commonly believed to be the most northerly species
of penguin found anywhere in the world. At only 35 centimetres
tall, they're also believed to be one of the smallest
breeds of penguin found anywhere in the world.
If you want to see one of the penguins on any of the Galapagos
tours, you'll need to make sure you travel to the cooler
waters around Fernandina, Isabela and Bartolome islands.
You'll also need to make sure you get up quite early;
the penguins like to set off on their day's business between
5 and 7 a.m.
Other Galapagos Islands Marine Mammal Life
Aside from the amazing Galapagos marine iguana and cute
Galapagos sea lions, the Galapagos Islands also boasts
over twelve different species of sharks within its territorial
waters. Amazingly, however, there has not been one recorded
shark attack on a scuba-diver or snorkelling swimmer!
Included in this spectacular array of sharks are the usual
hammerhead, tiger, grey-reef, black-tip, and whale sharks.
Another marine mammal that all visitors to the Galapagos
Islands look out for on their tours is the dolphin. Usually
dolphins and sharks do not like to share the same territorial
waters, but in the Galapagos Islands you'll have the chance
to see both the common species of dolphin and the bottle-nose
dolphin.
