MARINE IGUANA

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

Taxonomy

Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animaux, animals

Phylum Chordata – cordés, cordado, chordates

Class Reptilia Laurenti, 1768 – répteis, reptiles, Reptiles

Order Squamata Oppel, 1811 – Amphisbaenians, Lizards, Snakes, amphisbènes, lézards, serpents

Family Iguanidae – American Arboreal Lizards, Chuckwallas, Iguanas, Iguani

Genus Amblyrhynchus Bell, 1825 – Marine Iguanas

Species Amblyrhynchus cristatus Bell, 1825 – Marine Iguana

STATUS: VULNERABLE

Marine Iguana is endemic to the Galapagos Archipelago; they do not move smoothly on land, but they are outstanding swimmers; adult’s iguanas are black all year long changing their color during mating season using coloration of green and red. El Niño decreases the iguana population because it cuts their food supplies; moreover, oil spills and plastic pollution caused dramatic effects on the Marine Iguana population as well. Marine iguanas can submerge under the water in order to eat the algae and seaweed , they can be under water for almost an hour and as deep of 100 feet. Non-native predators like rats, feral cats, and dogs are threats for the eggs and the young of the marine iguanas ; however, they are protected in the Galapagos archipelago.

References

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/en
Marine Iguana: National Geographic. Animals. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/marine-iguana
Itis - report: Amblyrhynchus Cristatus. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=566844