Galapagos Islands - Part 4

                  Marine Animals


While the whole Galapagos Island trip was incredible, hands down the best wildlife experience of my life so far was the snorkeling off the coast of Fernandina Island.  The goal of the snorkeling that afternoon was to swim with the marine iguanas.  While I will admit some trepidation for this experience as the marine iguanas are creepy, I am so glad I went.  If you know me, you know that sea turtles are my absolute favorite marine animal.  The snorkeling began with more sea turtles than I have ever seen in my life and ended with an unforgettable up close encounter with a very playful and curious sea lion! 





We will get back to this curious little fellow in a bit...

Sea Turtles

So I think the sea turtles are just the most graceful marine creature.  I love to watch them glide through the water effortlessly.  I am always respectful of the animals and try to keep a distance from sea creatures so they do not feel threatened by my being there, but there were literally so many turtles that I just floated there and they swam past me!  The green sea turtles are seen in the Galapagos Islands.  They can live up to 80 years and nest on many of the islands in the Galapagos Archipelago.  They are also an endangered species with declining populations due to fishing (and getting trapped in fishing nets), feral animal destruction of their nests and light pollution leading the hatchlings away from the ocean and toward human settlements.









Penguins

Penguins you say, at the equator???  Yes, there are galapagos penguins that are uniquely adapted to live in the islands.  They are an endangered species with less than 2000 remaining.  Their population is extremely sensitive to the effects of El Nino.  They live primarily around Fernandina, Bartholome and Isabela Islands, which is where we saw them.  They are fast swimmers and can reach speeds up to 35 miles per hour.














Sea Lions

Sea lions are very playful and curious animals.  While they are endangered, the Galapagos sea lions are the most abundant marine animal in the islands.  They can be found throughout the Galapagos Islands even on the inhabited islands.  They can live 15-20 years, are typically brown to gray in color and range from 4.5-6 feet in length.  They often are found along the shores resting.  Their natural predators include sharks and orcas, but like the penguins, they are also very susceptible to the effects of El Nino which causes a loss of their food source.  














The baby sea lions are just adorable!









Other marine sightings - Rays, Starfish, Sea Cucumbers and Fish


Spotted Eagle Ray and Golden Rays

Chocolate Chip Starfish

Sea Cucumber





Fun Fact I didn't Know before I went to the Galapagos:  How do you tell the difference between seals and sea lions?  Sea lions have ear flaps, while seals do not.



I hope you are enjoying these posts with photos and videos.  Coming soon... Galapagos Islands - Final Thoughts.




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