| The Marine Iguana of the Galapagos Islands |
| The marine iguana of the Galapagos
Islands is the only lizard that uses the ocean as a
feeding ground. They feed on marine algae and small
crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp. Female and juvenile
marine iguanas feed in the inter-tidal zone and reefs
that are exposed at low tide. Large male marine iguanas
are often seen swimming and diving offshore. They can
dive as deep as 40 feet (12 m) and stay underwater for 5
to 10 minutes. Because they have so much salt in their diets, they have special salt glands to remove excess salt from their bodies. These glands are located above their eyes and connected to their nasal cavities. Excess salt is removed by frequent sneezing. Marine iguanas, like other reptiles, are cold-blooded. They bask in the sun until their bodies reach a temperature of 96 F (35.5 C). When their body temperature is high enough, they enter the chilly ocean waters in search of food. While in the water feeding, their body temperature may drop more than 20 degrees F (11 degrees C). After feeding, they again bask in the sun to raise their body temperature. At dusk, marine iguanas pile together in a heap to conserve heat. To learn more about marine iguanas, visit http://www.birminghamzoo.com/galapagos/miguanas.htm http://www.terraquest.com/galapagos/wildlife/coastal/seaiguana.html |
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