{"id":38957,"date":"2024-05-30T13:45:29","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T11:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dd2eb6b4-f583-46ab-8ac6-88ab087803de"},"modified":"2024-05-30T14:27:46","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T12:27:46","slug":"weird-wildlife-wonders-of-the-galapagos-discover-unique-species-from-the-famed-archipelago","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/weird-wildlife-wonders-of-the-galapagos-discover-unique-species-from-the-famed-archipelago\/","title":{"rendered":"Weird wildlife wonders of the Gal\u00e1pagos: Discover unique species from the famed archipelago"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\">Meet the fascinating wildlife inhabiting the archipelago that inspired naturalist Charles Darwin. <\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By <\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Thursday, 30 May 2024 at 11:45 AM<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p><strong>The Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, an isolated archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, are a natural wonderland teeming with bizarre and vibrant wildlife where unique species have adapted in extraordinary ways to the harsh and varied environments. <\/strong><\/p><p>We take a look at the wonderful creatures and plants that call this enchanted place home.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-galapagos-islands-wird-and-wonderful-wildlife\">Gal\u00e1pagos Islands&#8217; wird and wonderful wildlife<\/h2><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-galapagos-giant-tortoise\"><strong>Gal\u00e1pagos giant tortoise <\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/12\/GettyImages-818046040.mp4\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>The world\u2019s largest tortoise, the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/reptiles\/galapagos-giant-tortoise-guide-species-facts-where-they-live-what-they-eat-and-why-they-are-endangered\"> <strong>Gal\u00e1pagos giant tortoise<\/strong><\/a>, gave these islands their name. Spanish sailors who discovered the archipelago named it after the species.<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/reptiles\/giant-tortoises-facts\">Where do giant tortoises live and why are they so big?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/reptiles\/turtle-vs-tortoise\">Turtle vs tortoise: what&#8217;s the difference?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-marine-iguana\"><strong>Marine iguana <\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/12\/GettyImages-453051858.mp4\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/reptiles\/facts-about-marine-iguanas\">Marine iguanas<\/a> are endemic to the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands and are the only sea-going lizards in the world!\u00a0They must sunbathe to raise its body temperature before making a short trip into the sea. It feeds on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/plant-facts\/water-plants\/algae-facts-algae-blooms\">algae<\/a>.<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/reptiles\/why-do-iguanas-have-three-eyes\">Why do iguanas have three eyes?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-land-iguana\"><strong>Land iguana<\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-1396168426.mp4\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Darwin unkindly described the land iguana &#8211; one of the world&#8217;s largest lizards &#8211; as having a \u201csingularly stupid appearance.\u201d<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lava-lizard\"><strong>Lava lizard<\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-3B2FBBA2_0005.mp4\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Lava lizards have unusually well developed colour <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/animal-vision-how-do-animals-see\">vision<\/a>, which plays an important role during courtship \u2013 the females develop bright red throats.<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/amphibians\/lizard-vs-newt-whats-the-difference\">Lizard vs newt: what&#8217;s the difference?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-flightless-cormorant\"><strong> Flightless cormorant<\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/12\/GettyImages-1B07859_0025-1.mp4\"\/><\/figure><p>As the name suggest, this bird is unable to fly. The flightless cormorant feeds on bottom-dwelling fishes, which it hunts for by making pursuit-dives. <\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/birds\/flightless-birds\">Flightless birds &#8211; how did some birds lose their ability to fly?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/birds\/strange-flightless-birds\">10 flightless birds: Meet some curious &#8211; and often strange &#8211; land-based avian wonders<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-swallow-tailed-gull\"><strong>Swallow-tailed gull<\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/12\/GettyImages-1171727147.mp4\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>The Swallow-tailed gull is one of the world\u2019s few nocturnal gulls. Night-time feeding enables it to avoid the piratical attentions of the marauding frigatebirds.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-galapagos-or-darwin-s-finches\"><strong> Gal\u00e1pagos (or Darwin\u2019s) finches<\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/12\/GettyImages-3B2FBBBB_0001.mp4\"\/><\/figure><p>The 13 endemic finch species have proved extremely valuable to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/evolution-explained\">evolutionary theory<\/a>. They are thought to have evolved from a common ancestor.<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/news\/evolution-in-action\">Finches in the Gal\u00e1pagos islands are showing evolution in action<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-giant-prickly-pear\"><strong>Giant prickly pear <\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/12\/GettyImages-811179708.mp4\"\/><\/figure><p>The prickly pear is a tall tree cactus which has developed a well-protected trunk to spare it from the ravages of giant tortoises and land iguanas.<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/plant-facts\/trees\/weirdest-trees\">Weirdest trees in the world: Discover nature&#8217;s wackiest tree wonders<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-galapagos-sealion\"><strong> Gal\u00e1pagos sealion <\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/12\/GettyImages-1003617742-2.mp4\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>The<a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/facts-about-galapagos-sea-lions\"> Gal\u00e1pagos sealion<\/a> is one of the most conspicuous and numerous marine mammals found on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-blue-footed-booby\"><strong> Blue-footed booby<\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/12\/GettyImages-1B011786_0013.mp4\"\/><\/figure><p>Instantly recognisable by its bright blue webbed feet, this comical looking seabird usually nests in colonies of up to several hundred. Masked boobies and red-footed boobies can also be seen on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-magnificent-frigatebird\"><strong> <strong>Magnificent<\/strong><\/strong> <strong>frigatebird<\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/12\/GettyImages-453023022.mp4\"\/><\/figure><p>The aerial manoeuvres of this seabird &#8211; which we named one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/birds\/weirdest-birds\">world&#8217;s weirdest birds<\/a> &#8211; captivated Darwin so much so he gave the species the nickname \u201ccondor of the ocean.\u201d<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-galapagos-penguin\"><strong> Gal\u00e1pagos penguin<\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/12\/GettyImages-1076427972.mp4\"\/><\/figure><p>About 95 percent of the population can be found on the islands of Ferdinandina and Isabela.<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/birds\/facts-about-penguins\"><strong>Penguin guide: how to identify each species and best places to see<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-waved-albatross\"><strong> Waved albatross <\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/12\/GettyImages-453051838.mp4\"\/><\/figure><p>These large birds spend most of their lives at sea, but come ashore to breed on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands.<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/birds\/albatross-facts\">Albatross guide: species facts, diet, threats they face &#8211; and their massive wingspan<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-red-billed-tropicbird\"><strong>Red-billed tropicbird <\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Largest of the three tropicbird species and an energetic flier that spends a lot of time over the open water.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-galapagos-hawk\"><strong> Gal\u00e1pagos hawk<\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-453051856.mp4\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>This bird of prey has no natural predators on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands and therefore shows very little fear of humans.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-galapagos-mockingbird\"><strong>Gal\u00e1pagos mockingbird<\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-3B2FBB9F_0004.mp4\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Of the four species that occur in the archipelago, the Gal\u00e1pagos mockingbird is by far the most widespread and had an influence on Darwin\u2019s theory of natural selection.<\/p><p><strong>Gal\u00e1pagos fur seal <\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2014\/12\/GettyImages-3B2FBB9C_0007.mp4\"\/><\/figure><p>The breeding season of this species lasts from mid-August to mid-November. Pups are born at the end of September or beginning of October.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meet the fascinating wildlife inhabiting the archipelago that inspired naturalist Charles Darwin. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":38958,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/05\/weird-wildlife-wonders-of-the-galapagos-discover-unique-species-from-the-famed-archipelago.jpg",623,418,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/05\/weird-wildlife-wonders-of-the-galapagos-discover-unique-species-from-the-famed-archipelago-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/05\/weird-wildlife-wonders-of-the-galapagos-discover-unique-species-from-the-famed-archipelago-300x201.jpg",300,201,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/05\/weird-wildlife-wonders-of-the-galapagos-discover-unique-species-from-the-famed-archipelago.jpg",623,418,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/05\/weird-wildlife-wonders-of-the-galapagos-discover-unique-species-from-the-famed-archipelago.jpg",623,418,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/05\/weird-wildlife-wonders-of-the-galapagos-discover-unique-species-from-the-famed-archipelago.jpg",623,418,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/05\/weird-wildlife-wonders-of-the-galapagos-discover-unique-species-from-the-famed-archipelago.jpg",623,418,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Meet the fascinating wildlife inhabiting the archipelago that inspired naturalist Charles Darwin.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/38957"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}