Marine Iguana

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

The marine iguana is a Galapagos lizard adapted to feeding in the ocean, the only living lizard that regularly forages at sea. Amblyrhynchus cristatus has a dark, heat-absorbing body, blunt head, strong claws for gripping lava rock, and salt glands that expel excess salt through the nose. Most feeding is on marine algae, with larger animals able to dive and graze underwater while smaller ones often feed in the intertidal zone. Size, color, and breeding-season tones vary among islands, so the species is best understood as a set of local populations shaped by harsh coastal conditions.

Marine iguanas are not ordinary reptile pets. Human management is mainly conservation, research, and rare specialized institutional care under strict regulation. Field teams monitor nesting beaches, visitor disturbance, oil exposure, introduced predators, and climate events that affect algae growth. Any facility care would need strong ultraviolet light, basking gradients, saltwater or marine-influenced systems, correct algae-based nutrition, and space that avoids skin and foot injuries on rough surfaces. Records of island origin, health, and release or rescue status are important because moving animals carelessly can blur local population differences and spread disease.