Prime marine iguana real estate just past La Lobería, San Cristobal Island.
Past "La Lobería" is a stretch of black lava rocks with several families of marine iguanas. All morning they rest motionless, lounging on the rocks, calmly collecting the sun´s rays. When they are warm enough, they slither into the ocean and go find some algae and seaweed to eat. You can approach to watch close up within 2-3 feet of them. They look like wise old men, or mini-dragons, with their eternally serene demeanor. Marine iguanas are relaxing to watch, and even more so, to try and emulate.
At night, iguanas pile up together to maintain warmth - in the morning they look like a big happy family.
Marine iguanas can grow up to 1.3 meters - the largest ones live in Isabella and Fernandina Islands, on the western end of the archipelago. The biggest I´ve seen is about 0.8 meters. Incredibly, they can also change size - scientists discovered that during El Niño years, when their food source (marine algae) was reduced, the iguanas actually reduced in size about 20% by shrinking their vertebrae.
In the past, the iguana´s only predators were sharks and other large fish. They have not evolved to thwart their new predators - humans, dogs, and cats - so their populations are dropping. Galapagos Online has an anecdote describing how their instincts are ingrained:
"In the 19th century when Charles Darwin visited the islands he found thousands of Marine Iguanas living along the rocky shore. He picked one up and threw it into the ocean it instantly swam back to the shore. This was repeated several times and the Iguana continued to seek the safety of the shore when it could have easily swum off to escape Darwin."
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