The Life of Animals | Galapagos Land Iguana | The Galapagos Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus) is a species of lizard in the Iguanidae family. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, primarily the islands of Fernandina, Isabela, Santa Cruz, North Seymour, Hood and South Plaza. The Galapagos Land Iguana varies in morphology and coloration different island Among Populations There are two taxonomically distinct forms of Conolophus inhabiting the western part of the islands (C. pallidus and C. Rosada) and one in the central part (C subcristatus) Its generic name, Conolophus, is derived from two Greek words: conos (κώνος) meaning "spiny" and lophos (λοφος) meaning "crest" or "plume", denoting the spiny crests along Their Backs.
Being cold-blooded, They absorb heat from the sun by basking on volcanic rock, and at night sleep in Burrows to Conserve Their body heat These iguanas also enjoy a Symbiotic relationship with birds; Parasites and the birds remove ticks, providing relief to the iguanas and food for the birds. Land iguanas are primarily herbivorous; however, some individuals have shown That They are opportunistic carnivores Their diet supplementing with Insects, centipedes and carrion.
It is estimated That the Galapagos Land Iguana has a 50 to 60-year lifespan Galapagos Land Iguanas Become sexually mature anywhere the between eight and fifteen years of age, Depending on the which island They are also varies from season ing the between islands, but soon after-ing, the females migrate to sandy areas to nest, laying 2-25 eggs in a Burrow 18 inches deep The eggs hatch anywhere from 90 to 125 days later
On South Plaza Island, where the territories of Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas overlap, the two Sometimes interbreed, resulting in a mixture of features from each species; resulting in what is known as a Hybrid Iguana The most Likely unions growing niche to be the between male Marine Female Iguanas and Land Iguanas. Despite Their long separation time and Their being two distinct species from different genera, the offspring are viable, although sterile Likely That it is estimated the between 5.000 and 10.000 acres of land iguanas found in the Galapagos iguanas These were the resource persons so abundant on Santiago Island at one time That naturalist Charles Darwin remarked Pls it was King James Island Called That Hearst's translocated iguanas survived, and Became the breeding stock for the Charles Darwin Research Station captive breeding program the which has successfully reintroduced the species to Baltra and a number of other areas Visitors today frequently see iguanas on Both the runway of the Baltra airport or while They cross the road.
