Animals you should see in the Galapagos Islands / II Part

Greetings community! I share with you the second and last part of this article about the fascinating fauna that you can see live and direct when you go to the Galapagos Islands.

Photo: The Galapagos land iguana

We had been at number 6, here we continue with the list:

7.- Frigate bird

Watching these sea birds live and direct was amazing for me because I met them as a child but through an encyclopedia of animals that my sister has and her inflated red chest always struck me.

These seabirds are large and you can see them flying over the cliffs, sometimes they annoy other birds to let go of what they hunted and they keep the food, yes, they are thieves lol.

A guide told us while we were on a path, that what they have in their chest is called gular sack, only males have it and they inflate it when it is time to reproduce, that is, that red breast is pure flirting to impress females .

8.- Land iguana

Looking more friendly than the marine iguana, this reptile is astonished by its beautiful color, it is like a yellow reaching the terracotta. It is endemic to the Galapagos Islands, which means that it only lives in this region of the world and unfortunately is in danger of extinction because it is very vulnerable to human activity and other animals introduced to its habitat such as pigs, goats, cats, dogs, who either eat their food or eat them and their eggs.

During my stay here I could only see them at the Charles Darwin Research Station, located in Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island), there were several specimens in fenced areas, they love sunbathing, they are big, they exceed the meter in length.

Currently the Galapagos National Park team is working to save it and recently I read that they introduced about 2,000 to repopulate the territory.

9.- Manta ray

The marine life on these islands is very varied and unique, and among the thousands of animals that walk around there is the impressive manta ray, which is the largest of all the species of rays that inhabit the Galapagos Islands and one of the largest fish in the world, pass on average 4 meters.

Photo: Road to Bartolome Island, strange rock formations everywhere

I could contemplate them with pleasure when I went on a boat trip to Bartolome Island, I was seeing the beautiful landscape when suddenly looking at the sea, I saw how these immense beings literally "flew" into the water. Their flutter movements looked so relaxing that I stayed watching them for a long time, it seemed that they were following us, they were several together swimming by the side of the ship and from time to time one or another jumped on the water! It is a pity that I could not capture them with my modest camera, from the photos I took, you can hardly see anything.

Photo: On the beach, I sadly got this dead baby manta ray

There are many myths about the manta rays, that if they are poisonous, that if the sting, but the truth is that neither one nor the other. These fascinating fish are neither poisonous nor stinger, the problem is that they confuse them with the rays, which can be dangerous in that sense.

10.- Tropical fishes

Photo: Angel fishes, they threw bread and appeared

There is not much to say about these beautiful and colorful beings, you have to enjoy them. They are not shy and if you have something to give them they will approach you.

Photo: I owe you the name of this...

Photo: I didn't know the name of this little boy or girl...

It is not difficult to see them, but it is recommended that you have a mask to immerse yourself and see their colors in all their splendor. In addition, they have funny names: blue damsels, yellow-tailed surgeons, Moorish idols and so hehehe ... I read that in these islands have been found more than 400 species of fishes and 50 of them are endemic.

11.- Green turtle

Photo: Another who likes bread

I had the joy of swimming with these beautiful and serene reptiles when I went to Bartolome Island. I could also take some pictures with a disposable water camera that I bought, because my digital camera was not submersible.

Photo: This is the disposable camera that I bought to be able to take some underwater photos. Yes, it is with film reel, old school hehe

This marine animal is the only species of green turtle that nests in the archipelago and is another animal that is in danger of extinction for several reasons, such as hunting for its meat, the consumption of its eggs, because they collide with ships or entangle in networks.

Pic captured with my disposable underwater camera, it has a vintage touch, doesn't it?

In the Galapagos Islands, being a National Park, they have found refuge and a little tranquility to live, so it is not difficult to see them. They are large, can measure a meter and weigh about 150 kg and are distinguished by the colors of their shell that include green, brown and yellow.

12.- Flamingo

Photo: A lonely flamingo in the lagoon behind El Garrapatero beach

I saw this bird of beautiful color when I went to El Garrapatero beach, which is half an hour from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. That day it dawned pretty but when it arrived at the place it started to rain very hard and I had to take refuge for about an hour in a control booth that was there entering the beach.

Photo: Waiting for the sun

When it finally stopped raining I saw that there was a sign indicating the presence of the flamingos, at that time there was only one there in the lagoon, it was very difficult for me to photograph it because it was in a restricted area, I just tried to approach and not even approach because I was about 50 meters away, they whipped me and told me that I could not enter that area, so the images I captured were not good.

The zoom of my camera was not very good...

I read that this flamingo is the largest of the five species that exist in the world and yes, really, the one I saw was quite high, I think it measured as a meter and a half. There are few, it is on the Red List of birds of Ecuador.

Well, so far the list, of course there are many other animals to see, for example the albatross, hawk, the reef shark, which when I submerged on Bartolome Island approached one, I was paralyzed even when it was not very large, but It was a shark anyway! There are also the penguin and the Cormorant of the Galapagos, which unfortunately I could not see, the killer whale, and many more.

This shark sends you greetings

I hope you enjoyed this story and photos.

¡THANK YOU FOR READING!