Meet the ten Galapagos species we love so much that we've made them into collectable pin badges!
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The Galapagos penguin is one of the smallest penguins in the world and is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. They are found mainly on Isabela and Fernandina islands but they can also be seen on Floreana, Santiago and Bartolome. As with all penguin species, they are extremely agile underwater, reaching speeds of 35 km per hour when hunting. Their diet consists primarily of cold water-schooling fish, such as anchovies, sardines and mullet, which are able to live in the Galapagos Marine Reserve thanks to the cold waters of the Humboldt Current.
Currently, we are working with partners to assess the risk of marine plastic pollution to Galapagos penguins as part of our Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos programme.
The most famous resident of the Galapagos Islands is the Galapagos giant tortoise. In fact, the very word ‘Galapagos’ derives from an old Spanish word for tortoises! After the death of Lonesome George in 2012, the last Pinta island tortoise, twelve living species are thought to remain in Galapagos across ten islands.
The Galapagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme, co-funded by GCT, is helping to improve our understanding of giant tortoise migration so that more effective management plans can be implemented.
Whale sharks are the largest species of shark and the largest fish alive today. The largest confirmed individual had a length of 12.65 metres but they are thought to reach between 18 and 20 metres. They are a migratory species and can be found in all warm and temperate seas other than the Mediterranean. In Galapagos, 90% of the whale sharks seen appear to be pregnant females, though research is still underway to discover why.
We support the Galapagos Whale Shark Project, which aims to improve our understanding of how whale sharks use the Galapagos Marine Reserve and hopes to uncover the elusive pupping ground of these giant fish.
The Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) is one of the few places on Earth where scalloped hammerhead sharks can be seen gathering together in large schools of up to several hundred. They can be told apart from their close relatives by the ‘scalloped’ front edge of their hammer-shaped head (which is called the cephalofoil). Hammerhead sharks are in the Galapagos Marine Reserve all year round but their abundance is highest in January and lowest in May.
We are working with partners to ensure that scalloped hammerheads are protected throughout their life stages, including on their migrations, as part of our Endangered Sharks of Galapagos programme.
The Galapagos sea lion is a species that primarily breeds in the Galapagos Islands, although some breeding colonies also occur on Isla de la Plata just off mainland Ecuador. They can dive to depths of up to almost 600 metres and can stay underwater for over ten minutes. They spend a lot of their time resting on beaches or playing, and are generally inquisitive, making them a favourite among residents and tourists.
We are investigating the risks of plastic pollution on marine life in Galapagos as part of our Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos programme, including sea lions which have been seen entangled in plastic.
Show off your love for Galapagos wildlife with our limited edition pin badges!
Sally Lightfoot crabs are brightly-coloured coastal scavengers, found in the Galapagos Islands and across the western coast of South and Central America. They are rumoured to have been named after a Caribbean dancer, due to their agility in jumping from rock to rock, their ability to run in four directions and their capacity to climb up vertical slopes.
Sally Lightfoot crabs could also be at risk from marine plastic pollution. Luckily, we are working with partners to assess the risks of marine plastic pollution to wildlife as part of our Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos programme.
The little vermilion flycatcher is an endemic species to Galapagos and is closely related to the vermillion flycatcher found on the mainland Americas. The males have a striking red plumage, with black wings and eye markings. The females are much harder to spot with their comparatively drab greyish colour and peach-coloured breast.
GCT is currently supporting partners in their efforts to restore Floreana island to its former ecological glory, with the long-term goal of reintroducing locally extinct species such as the little vermilion flycatcher.
Blue-footed boobies are one of three booby species found on Galapagos. The most distinctive characteristic of the blue-footed booby is its large blue feet, which play an important role in courtship. Females are thought to select males with brighter feet, as they are an indicator of his overall condition and thus the quality of his genes.
We are currently working with partners to determine the risks of marine plastic pollution to seabirds, including blue-footed boobies, as part of our Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos programme.
Marine iguanas are endemic to the Galapagos Islands and are the only sea-going lizards in the world. They are excellent swimmers, moving easily through the water as they feed on algae. Due to the high concentration of salt in their diet, marine iguanas filter their blood at the nose and sneeze out the excess salt, often forming salt crystals on the snout.
We are supporting the Iguanas from Above project, which is combining drone technology with citizen science to monitor the health of marine iguana populations in Galapagos.
Spotted eagle rays have a black top side with very distinctive luminescent-looking white dots. They can be found in Elizabeth Bay on Isabela and are often found at Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) on Santa Cruz. The best time to spot rays is between December and May. This is when the water is slightly warmer and visibility is clearer.
We are working with partners to ensure all ray species in Galapagos are protected through our Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos programme and our Endangered Rays of Galapagos programme, which will benefit ray populations all over Galapagos.
100% of our shop’s profits go towards funding conservation work in Galapagos. We ship worldwide in recyclable, plastic-free packaging.
There are many ways to support our vision for a sustainable Galapagos: why not adopt an animal, become a GCT member or donate today?
