A Female Lava Lizard on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Islands
The Española Lava Lizard, or Hood Lava Lizard is one of nine species of lava lizards endemic to the Galapagos Islands. As it’s name suggests, it is specifically endemic to Espanola, or Hood, Island.
This particular lava lizard is a female lava lizard, as can be determined by the colouration of the face. While different lava lizards species have different colouration’s and their colours can change at times, the females often have a bright red colour under their necks.
Overall, male lava lizards are larger than the females. Both males and females will perform ‘push ups’ if they feel threatened by your presence, or to determine dominance over another lava lizard nearby.
The scientific name for this lava lizard is Microlophus delanonis and it was photographed at Punta Suarez on Espanola Island.
A Nazca Booby at Punta Suarez on Espanola Island in the Galapagos
The sleek-looking Nazca Booby of the Galapagos Islands.
Not many years ago, the Nazca Booby was considered a subspecies of the Masked Booby, but now it is recognized as it’s own unique species.
They are mostly white in colour, with black wing tips and black around the face. Despite breeding and hatching on islands with few predators (the Galapagos), the Nazca Boobies will only raise one chick.
Usually two eggs are laid, and whichever hatches first (if they both hatch) will eventually push the other baby Nazca Booby out of the nest. Once out of the protected ‘ring’, the parents will refuse to feed the abandoned baby and it will inevitably die! Cruel siblings huh?
