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Galapagos pink land iguana

Galapagos pink land iguana
© Wacho Tapia / Galapagos Conservancy

Common name:

Galapagos pink land iguana

Scientific name:

Conolophus marthae

Spanish name:

Iguana rosada

Conservation status:

Critically Endangered

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC

Maximum size:

1.2 metres

Overview

One of Galapagos’ most recently described species is also one of its genetically oldest. Pink iguanas are not just a different colour from other land iguanas; they are a completely separate species. There are only around 200 left, and they are confined to the slopes of Wolf Volcano on Isabela, making them one of the most vulnerable species in Galapagos, as the volcano is still active. 

First spotted and described by National Park rangers in 1986, it wasn’t until 2009 that the pink iguana was officially classified as a separate species to the other land iguanas in Galapagos, and initially it was passed off as an oddity. Further genetic analysis suggests that the divergence happened 5.7 million years ago, making it one of the oldest events of divergence recorded in Galapagos.

Pink land iguanas in Galapagos

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Read more about pink land iguanas...

20th Jun 2019
Plastic pollution

Iguana Cups - Deposit Return Scheme for Galapagos

Named after the endemic pink land iguana, the Iguana Cup project is aiming to reduce the use of single-use plastic cups in Galapagos and change consumer behaviour.
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28th May 2015
Geology Invasive species

Wolf Volcano

Wolf Volcano! The very name conjures images of bygone eras, of an evocative, remote and harsh environment rarely visited...
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27th May 2015
Geology News

UPDATE: Volcano Activity Decreases

During the second day of the eruption of Wolf Volcano, visual evidence suggests a decrease in activity.
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26th May 2015
Geology News

BREAKING: Wolf Volcano Erupts

Wolf Volcano began to erupt yesterday after being dormant for 33 years.
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