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Islands
Bartolome Island
| Two views of Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome Island. The
more reddish ground is indicative of oxidation of iron, younger age.
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| Tiquilia plants on cinder slope looking up to
summit of Bartolome Island. The flowers of the Tiquilia are principal
food items of the endemic lava lizard. |
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The Sea
Algae of the Galapagos: About 333 species occur
here (35% of which are endemic).
Marine Invertebrates of
Galapagos:
Cnidarians:
Anemones:
http://www.conservationinstitute.org/anemonebarrens.htm
Corals: 31 species of non-reef
building (of which a third are endemic) and 13 hermatypic. None greatly
abundant. Porites lobata, Pavona
clavus, Pavona
gigantea Pavona varians, Psammocora stellata, Diaseris
distorta and Cycloseris curvata.
| Pocillopora damicornis and P. elegans
are found in the Galapagos. |
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Mollusks: About 600 species recorded.
Crustaceans: About 100 species of crabs.
| Grapsus grapsus, the Sally Lightfoot Crab.
Galapagos pix. |
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Echinoderms:
Sea Urchins: 24 species recorded.
| Eucidaris thouarsii (Valencinnes 1846),
Slate Pencil Urchin. Family Cidaridae. To 10.2 inches in diameter. Sea
of Cortez to Ecuador and Galapagos Islands. Ten rows of 5-8 variously
sharp/dull club-like spines. Feeds on benthic algae and Pocillopora and
Pavona corals. Common in the Galapagos. Found on rocky shore shallows to
150 meters depth. Galapagos pic. |
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| Lytechinus semituberculatus (Agassiz
& Desor 1846), Green Sea Urchin. To 6.4 inches in diameter. Southeastern
Pacific; Columbia to Peru and Galapagos Islands. Decidedly yellow green
in color. Common in rocky shores to 134 meters. Feeds principally on
benthic algae. Galapagos pic. |
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| Tripneustes depressus A. Agassiz 1863, the
White Sea Urchin. To 12.5 inches in diameter. Eastern Pacific; Southern
California to Ecuador and Galapagos Islands. Principally feeds on
coralline algae. Galapagos pix. |
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Sea Stars: 28 species recorded.
| Nidoriellia armata (Gray 1840), a
Chocolate Chip Sea Star. Family Oreasteridae. To 6.6 inches in diameter.
Mid to Eastern Pacific; Hawaii, Sea of Cortez to Peru and Galapagos.
Blunt arms, large central disc, large aboral spines dark in color.
Variable color and shape. Intertidal to 73 meters, feeds on benthic
marine invertebrates, gastropods and algae. Galapagos pic. |
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| Pentaceraster cumingi (Gray 1840), the
Panamic Cushion Star. Family Oreasteridae. To 13.4 inches in diameter.
Mid to Eastern Pacific; Hawaii, Sea of Cortez to Peru and Galapagos.
Variably red, orange to greenish blue bodied with large red spines.
Feeds on micro-fauna in substrate, benthic algae, seagrass and other
echinoderms. Usually found on sandy bottoms from shallow to 180 meters
depth. Galapagos pics. |
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| Phataria unifascialis (Gray 1840), the
Blue Sea Star. To 7 inches in diameter. Eastern Pacific; Sea of Cortez
to Peru and the Galapagos, rocky shores to 50 meters depth. Dorsal
surface blue or tan with black peppled lines, underside orange. Algae
feeder. Galapagos pic. |
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Sea Cucumbers: 30 species recorded.
Fishes of the Galapagos:
About 400 described species, 17% endemic.
Eels:
| Gymnothorax castaneus (Jordan & Gilbert 1883), the
Chestnut Moray (to science) or Morena Verde. To 150 cm. Eastern
Pacific; Sea of Cortez to Ecuador, including the Galapagos, particularly the
northern islands of Darwin and Wolf. Wolf image. |
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Parrotfishes:
| Scarus ghobban
Forsskal 1775, the Bluebarred Parrotfish. Indo-Pacific; Red Sea to Peru... a
Lessepsian species, found in the Mediterranean.
To 90 cm. in length. Feed on
algae growing on coral, rock. Pix of initial and terminal stage individuals
in the Galapagos. |
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| Scarus rubroviolaceus Bleeker 1847, the Ember
Parrotfish. Indo-pan-Pacific; eastern Africa to Panama, including Hawaii
and Galapagos Islands. To twenty eight inches in length. Shown, a female
and male off Gili Air, Lombok, Indonesia. |
 
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Wrasses:
Basses:
| Alphestes immaculatus Breder 1936, the Pacific Mutton
Hamlet. Eastern Pacific; Sea of Cortez to Peru, including Galapagos. To one
foot overall
length. This one in the Galapagos. A beauty. There are five species in this genus. |
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| Cephalopholis panamensis (Steindachner 1877), the
Panamic Graysby, Cabrilla. Eastern Pacific; Sea of Cortez to Ecuador,
Galapagos. To twelve inches in length. A secretive species. Galapagos pix. |
 
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| Dermatolepis dermatolepis (Boulenger 1895), the
Leather Grouper. This fish has "made the rounds" taxonomically,
being placed in other genera (more recently Epinephelus). Tropical eastern
Pacific. Cute when small, this species grows quickly to a large size, to
three feet long in the wild. A tiny individual in a sea urchin, six and
twelve inch individuals in the Galapagos and a two footer in Baja. |
| Liopropoma fasciatum Bussing 1980, the Banded Bass.
Tropical eastern Pacific. To seven inches overall length. A deepwater, shy
species that hangs out in caves. It's easily trained to stay out in the
open in captivity. Aquarium photo, here at the Birch, SIO. Rarely offered
in the trade. |
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| Mycteroperca olfax (Jenyns
1840), the Bacalao. Recorded from Cocos (Costa Rica) and Galapagos. To 120
cm. in length. Two foot
specimen of Galapagos. |
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| Serranus psittacinus Valenciennes 1846 (S. fasciatus
(Jenyns 1840) is a common synonym. The Barred Serrano. Eastern Pacific;
Sea of Cortez to Chile, including Galapagos. To seven inches in length.
Two four inch ones, in a fish shop in New Jersey, another at home in the
Galapagos! |
 
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Damsels:
| Abudefduf troschelii (Gill 1862), Panamic Sergeant.
Eastern Pacific; Baja California to Peru and the Galapagos Islands. To six
and a half inches in length. One down at Mexico's Baja tip, another in the
Galapagos. |
 
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| Microspathodon bairdi (Gill 1862), the Bumphead
Damselfish. Tropical eastern Pacific, Baja to Ecuador. To ten inches in
length. This one in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico's Baja California. |
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| Microspathodon dorsalis (Gill 1862), the Giant
(Mexican) Damselfish. Tropical eastern Pacific, Sea of Cortez to Ecuador.
To ten inches in length. Here are juveniles (1", 3") and an
adult (9") in the Mar de Cortez. |
| Stegastes
arcifrons (Heller & Snodgrass 1903), the Island Major. Good looking
and... quite a bonus, a known Aiptasia eater! To 13 cm. Eastern
Pacific: Costa Rica and from Cocos, Malpelo and Galapagos islands
in shallow, rocky shores. Typical for genus, this is a territorial
species that is constantly looking for, if not driving off members of
its own and often, other fish species. Feeds on algae and small
invertebrates, including tubeworms and anemone tentacles.
Intermediate and
adult individuals in the
Galapagos.
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=12510&genusname=Stegastes&speciesname=arcifrons |
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Angelfishes (Only one in Galapagos)
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Holacanthus passer Valenciennes 1846, the King or
Passer Angelfish (1). Juveniles act as cleaners of other fishes. To about nine
inches in length. A great, hardy fish for a large marine system. Mid Sea of
Cortez on down the Pacific coast to the Galapagos. Two inch one in Cabo, four
inch juvenile in the Galapagos and adult
in Cabo, Mexico.
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Butterflyfishes: Only two are common, Johnrandallia
nigrirostris, at times in large aggregations and Chaetodon humeralis (mostly in
pairs), but a handful of more tropical mid to eastern Pacific species can be
found in the northernmost Galapagos seasonally... and the Scythe (Prognathodes
falcifer) at times at depth.
| Johnrandallia nigrirostris (Gill 1862), the Blacknosed
Butterflyfish or El Barbero (Barberfish). Sea of Cortez to Ecuador,
including the Galapagos, 10 to 120 feet. To six inches overall length. A
facultative cleaner as juveniles. Pictured here at the tip of Baja and
the Galapagos, the latter where it is most common. |
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Tangs/Doctorfishes: Six species, but principally
Prionurus laticlavius
| Acanthurus nigricans
(Linnaeus 1758) Whitecheek to science, Powder Brown Surgeonfish to
aquarists. Formerly mis-identified as A. glaucopareius. Pan Pacific. To
about eight inches maximum length. See article on this and the very
similar, but more pet-fish-appropriate A. japonicus. At right
in Nuka Hiva. |
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The Moorish Idol:
| Zanclus cornutus (Linnaeus 1758), the Moorish
Idol. Indo-Pacific. Can be kept in captivity, though rarely lives
due to trauma in capture, holding, shipping, starvation during this time,
damage to their mouths... Omnivores that mainly feed on benthic
invertebrates. Principally sponges... and algae. One off of the
Galapagos. |
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Jacks: Mostly large, silvery and just barely in sight out
in the blue, or headed there
| Seriola rivoliana Valenciennes 1833, the Almaco Jack.
Circumtropical. Maximum recorded length 160 cm. A juvenile in N.
Sulawesi, and a mid-size adult in the Galapagos. |
 
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Barracudas:
| Sphyraena idiastes Heller & Snodgrass 1903, the Pelican
Barracuda. Southeast Pacific; Peru, Galapagos, Cocos Islands. To 91 cm.
Usually found in large groups, oblivious to divers. Galapagos pic. |
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Snappers:
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Lutjanus viridis (Valenciennes 1846), the Blue and Gold
Snapper. Eastern Pacific; Mexico to Ecuador. To one foot in length. In the
Galapagos.
Five black lined bluish bars on body.
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Puffers:
| Arothron hispidus (Linnaeus 1758), the White-Spotted Puffer.
Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, east African coast, tropical east Pacific coast.
To twenty inches in length in the wild.
Photo taken in the
Galapagos. |
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Sea Turtles: Mainly the Green (Chelonia
mydas) is encountered, though the Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata),
Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and Olive Ridley's (Lepidochelys
olivacea) occur in the Galapagos.
The Land
Reptiles: Twenty two species in five families
including the marine turtles (Cheloniidae), tortoises (Testudinidae), iguanid
lizards (Iguanidae), Geckos (Gekkonidae), and colubrid snakes (Colubridae).
Twenty endemic species.
Lizards of Galapagos
Iguanas: 3 species:
http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Ecuador/Galapagos/Iguanas/Iguanas.htm,
http://www.biology-x.com/biology-x/conolophus-subcristatus.html
Lava Lizards: Genus Tropidurus, seven
endemic species.
| Tropidurus spp. Examples from Santa Cruz
and Bartolome Islands. |
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Tortoises:
| All told there are eleven subspecies (one with
only one surviving member...) of the one species, Geochelone
elephantopus. The name "Galapagos" is derived from the name given
these turtles in reference to their "gala pagos" = Spanish
saddle shaped shells. The various sub-species
are distinguished, differentiated in part by the shape of their shells.
Males are much larger than females... Shown, a low profile type taking a
siesta at mid-day and a female high-shelled type in the process of
digging a nest. |
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Birds of Galapagos: Aquatic
| Sheniscus mendiculus, the Galapagos
Penguin. To 35 cm. in height (the third shortest of the eighteen species
of penguins of the world). Only tropical species, nesting north of the
equator. Here by Pinnacle Rock on Bartolome Island, Galapagos. |
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| Pelecanus occidentalis, the Brown Pelican.
Juveniles are all brown, adults as shown at right. This species occurs
widely around the Americas coasts. One of eight pelican species
worldwide, the Brown is the smallest in size. Galapagos image. |
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| Fregata magnificens, the Magnificient
Frigatebird. One of two species in the Galapagos and of five worldwide.
The Frigates are also called "Man o War Birds" for their pirating ways.
Mainly found in the Caribbean. Pix from Seymour Island, Galapagos. Male
with a young chick on Seymour Island, Galapagos. |
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| Fregata minor, the Great
Frigatebird. Very similar to the Magnificent Frigate, but females with
white only under chin, and males lack the brown band across the wings
and purplish tinge color on their backs. A female with young and a
displaying male shown on Seymour Island, Galapagos. |
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Birds of Galapagos: Terrestrial,
twenty nine species, 3/4 endemic, and 14 colonizations
| Geospiza fuliginosa, the Small Ground
Finch. One of the unique subtribe (Geospizini) of Darwin's Finches. 13
species (a 14th occurs on Cocos Island). Noted for their specialized
beaks/diets. Here a female is sitting on a wall at Darwin Station on
Santa Cruz Island. Males of this species are all black in color. |
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| Dendroica petechia aureolla,
the Yellow Warbler. |
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Mammals of Galapagos: Pinnipeds (two),
dolphins, whales, a diminishing number of rat species and bats... not including
feral introductions of cats, dogs, burros, non-indigenous rodents...
| Zalophus californianus wollebacki,
the Galapagos Sea Lion.
Males much larger, with a "bump" on their foreheads. To
250 kg. Galapagos pix of a dry female on land and a youngster underwater.
Brown in color when dry, blackish when wet.
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Plants of the Galapagos
Cactaceae:
| Jasminocereus thouarsii Candelabra Cactus.
To 7 meters tall. Cylindrical in cross-section that look like organ
pipes. Small flowers (1-2 inches across) are pollinated by night-flying
insects (moths), bearing edible reddish-purple fruits. Three sub-species
occur in the Galapagos. This pic made at Darwin Station, Puerto Ayora,
Santa Cruz Island. |
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| Opuntia echios var.
gigantea, one of the Prickly Pear Cactus. To 12 meters in height.
Reddish bark when older, green and spiny when young. Stems as cactus
"pads" bear spines in groups. Fourteen Opuntia types occur in the
Galapagos. |
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| Opuntia sp. Shrubby Prickly Pear Cactus.
Another of the 14 species found here (there are more than 300 in N.
America). Important as food for tortoises and land iguanas, the
fruit/seeds and flesh of this genus are used by insects and birds as
nourishment as well. Baltar Island. |
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Terrestrial Invertebrates:
| Schistocerca melanocera, Painted Locust, Baltar
Island, Galapagos. |
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Bibliography/Further Information:
Galapagos Conservation Trust:
http://www.gct.org/
Galapagos Darwin Foundation:
https://www.galapagos.org
Aquarium Fishes of the
Galapagos:
http://members.tripod.com/mark26/galapogos.html
Hickman, Cleveland P. 1998. A Field Guide to Sea Stars and
other Echinoderms of Galapagos. Sugar Springs Press, VA. 83 pp.
Humann, Paul and Ned DeLoach. 1993. Reef Fish
Identification, Galapagos. New World Publications, Fla. 226 pp.
Jackson, Michael H. 1993 (2002 printing). Galapagos, A
Natural History. Univ. of Calgary Press. 316 pp.
Galapagos, Volker + Christina
Hi Bob ( uncle Bob ) , hi Diana,
<Hey Volker and Christine, how are you?>
many greetings from gold old Hamburg, Germany !!
How are you?
<Fine my friends>
It was a great pleasure to meet you.
<And you>
We just arrived yesterday and we have enjoyed our time at Galapagos. At
our
first dive last Thursday Christina met a lot of hammersharks, I did
not ...
There is a picture attached.
<Very nice>
And you? Were are you staying now? Next trip planed?
<We're back home in San Diego, am out to Hawaii next week, Di's coming
out there toward the end of the month, then I'm off to the east coast
(Boston) in Sept. to give a talk, then we're going to Negril/Jamaica or
Bonaire to visit/dive for Di's birthday...>
And the picture with all of us is also attached.
<Thank you>
You want more underwater pictures? See lions, Turtles, Muränen ( don't
now it
in English ), white tipped sharks, rays, etc ...
<If they're in focus, please>
May be you both will answer ...
See you in Hawaii!!
Volker + Christina
<Looking forward to it. The link showing a bit about the place there:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/holualoaproperty.htm
Bob Fenner> |
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