Kingdom:Animalia Phylum:Chordata Class:Reptilia Order:Squamata Suborder:Iguania Family:Iguanidae Genus:Amblyrhynchus Species:A. cristatus The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands that has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to forage in the sea, making it a marine reptile. The iguana can dive over 9 m (30 ft) into the water. Marine iguanas are medium-sized lizards (200–340 mm (7.9–13.4 in), adult snout–vent length) and are unique as they are marine reptiles due to their foraging on inter- and subtidal algae only. These iguanas forage exclusively in the cold sea, which leads them to behavioral adaptations for thermoregulation. As reptiles, iguanas, like all vertebrates, have bilateral symmetry.
location and importance
It mainly lives on the rocky Galápagos shore to warm from the comparatively cold water, but can also be spotted in marshes and mangrovebeaches.
fun facts
Some marine iguanas are so big because of where they live. If the marine iguanas live on an Island with a rich supply of underwater algae they will grow much bigger than the ones on Islands with a less plentiful food supply. No matter which Island they live on, they all try to be the biggest. The females like the biggest males, and the biggest females lay the best eggs.
Marine iguanas normally eat underwater from algae beds, but sometimes they have been seen eating plants on land as well. Their main food is algae because their bodies make the best use of it; they don’t digest other kinds of plants very well.
They can hold their breath for up to 45 minutes.
The small females on some Islands only lay one egg. The large females on other Islands lay up to six eggs.