Animals of the Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands are a hotspot for global biodiversity, with one of the highest levels of unique species in the world. Around 97% of the reptile species, 80% of the land-dwelling birds, 20% of the marine animals, and 30% of the plants in these islands are endemic to the Galápagos, meaning they are found nowhere else. This significantly high population of endemic species is largely thanks to the islands' isolation, as they are located approximately 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) west of mainland Ecuador.

This amount of endemic species, found nowhere else in the world, can also be attributed to the islands' unique environmental conditions. The Galápagos includes 13 major islands, 6 smaller islands, and many islets and rocks, occupying a total land area of 8,010 square kilometres (3,093 square miles) and over 59,500 square kilometres (23,000 square miles) of ocean.

The Galápagos islands are considered to be geologically young, having formed approximately 700,000 to 5,000,000 years ago. They were formed from volcanic activity, with periodically active shield volcanoes spread throughout the archipelago.

The Galápagos feature distinct ecological zones, each with its own climate and vegetation. The arid lowlands of the region are covered with an open cactus forest, while a more elevated transition zone features a pisonia forest interspersed with guava trees. Above the transition zone, the islands are covered by a moist forest region dominated by a Scalesia forest. The upland zone is treeless, covered with grasses and ferns. The general climate of the Galápagos is relatively mild, with low rainfall and humidity and relatively low temperatures.

The archipelago's ecosystem consists of an array of fascinating animals that have adapted to the habitat. Animals on the islands have evolved to cope with the challenges of the climate-including the unique features of each individual island. For example, the famous Galápagos giant tortoises can survive for long periods without food or water, thanks to their slow metabolism, and there are various tortoise subspecies on the different islands that have evolved distinctly thanks to their geographical separation. Darwin's famous finches are another great example of this phenomenon.

Because of climate change, human activity, and other threats, many of the animals that call the Galápagos home are unfortunately vulnerable to extinction. As a conservation and rescue organisation that works around the world to help wildlife, IFAW is here to tell you about the most fascinating species that inhabit these islands, the threats they face, and the important roles they play in their unique ecosystems.

Let's explore some of the most iconic species found in the Galápagos.

Galápagos giant tortoises