Species Data
Common Name
Marine iguana
Scientific Name
Amblyrhynchus cristatus
Spanish Name
Iguana marina
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
Endemic/Native/Introduced
Endemic
Size
Up to 1.5m
Average Lifespan
5-12 years
Predators
On land, the Galapagos hawk and introduced cats, dogs and rats are predators and in the sea, several species of shark may prey on iguanas
Food
Herbivore (green algae such as sea lettuce)
Animal Class
Reptile
Species Overview
This unique animal is the only sea-going lizard in the world. Marine iguanas are able to dive to depths of 25 metres and can remain submerged for well over 10 minutes before having to return to land to warm up. They can often been seen basking in the sun on exposed lava to raise their body temperature to around 35.5°C.
Did you know that marine iguanas sneeze salt out of their nostrils? This strange adaptation has evolved to get rid of the excess salt which they ingest due to their marine diet.
Marine Iguana features on these pages:
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