Common name:
Galapagos land iguana
Scientific name:
Conolophus subcristatus
Spanish name:
Iguana terrestre de las Galápagos
Conservation status:
Vulnerable
Average lifespan:
55 years
Average size:
1 metre
Maximum size:
1.5 metres
Maximum weight:
11.5 kilograms
The Galapagos land iguana is one of three species of land iguana endemic to the Galapagos Islands (the others being the Santa Fe land iguana and the Galapagos pink land iguana). Their skin is generally yellow with white, black and brown blotches. They have a short head and powerful hind legs with sharp claws on their toes, but despite their intimidating appearance they are primarily herbivores, feeding on prickly pear leaves and fruit. These large cold-blooded reptiles have a mutualistic relationship with finches, which can often be seen sitting on their backs, picking ticks from between their scales. The population of land iguanas has undergone a severe decline over the last 150 years and, until 2019, they were locally extinct on Santiago island.
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"This is a major conservation achievement, and strengthens our hopes of restoring islands that have been severely affected by introduced species."
The return of the Galapagos land iguana to Santiago, where it had been locally extinct since the early 20th century, will help to restore the ecological health of the island.
