All rights reserved. May 2000 Cave as seen from the ocean while touring on a Zodiac boat For hundreds of years, people have been fascinated with the Galapagos Islands, from Charles Darwin to modern day tourists and researchers. The endemic species of flora and fauna have attracted people from all over the world. Read on to find out more Island volcano surrounded by clouds One of the native species of the Galapagos Islands is the marine iguana. The marine iguana is a greenish blackish or greenish grayish color, except on Isle Espanola, where they have bright red patterns on them.
Marine iguanas feed on algae that grow on the ocean floor.
Another species of iguana that is endemic to the Galapagos Islands is the Galapagos land iguana. Galapagos land iguanas are chiefly the color of sand. But sometimes they may be slightly darker. Unlike their cousin, the marine iguana, Galapagos land iguanas can't swim, and instead of eating algae, they eat larger tougher plants, such as lava cacti. Galapagos giant tortoises can live for hundreds of years, and they can go approximately one year without eating or drinking.