FAUNA

* Endemic species

• Reptile species: the twenty-two species of Galapagos reptiles belong to five families: tortoises, marine turtles, lizards/iguanas, geckos and snakes. Twenty are endemic to the archipelago and many are endemic to individual islands. The Islands are well known for their giant tortoises ever since their discovery and play an important role in the development of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. The name "Galapagos" originates from the Spanish word "galapago" meaning "saddle."

• Seabird species: the Galapagos archipelago is surrounded by thousands of miles of open ocean, which provides seabirds with a prominent place in the fauna of the islands. There are 19 resident species (5 are endemic), most of which can be seen by visitors easily. There may be as many as 750,000 seabirds in Galapagos, including 30% of the world's blue footed boobies, the world's largest red footed booby colony and the largest concentration of masked boobies in the world (Harris, 1984).

• Shorebird species: the coastline of Galapagos, comprising of beaches, rocky shores, mangrove lagoons and tidal salines, provide habitats for the resident shorebirds species listed here. Migrant species, those that breed in North America during the summer months, are not listed here.

• Land bird species: few species of land birds inhabit the Galapagos, although 22 of the 29 resident species are endemic to the Islands. Their presence in Galapagos is difficult to explain. They may have arrived by strong winds, although luck must have played a big part. For the most part, land birds are not exciting by appearance, they are rather dull color. However, their "tameness" is unsurpassed which make them a pleasure to watch.

• Mammal species: oceanic islands are typically lacking in mammals and the Galapagos are no exception. Only six species of mammals are native to the Islands. The absence of large predators probably accounts for the fearlessness of the other native species towards humans. Most mammals arrived on either rafts, vegetation or by swimming.

• Fish and other marine species: almost 300 species of fish have been identified in Galapagos. This is by no means a comprehensive list. You will find the most commonly seen species and those of ecological importance in abundance. Most of Galapagos fish species (54%) have their closest affinity in the Panama province. Fishes from the Indo-west Pacific area amount to about 12%, 7% from Peru-Chile province, 5% from the East Pacific offshore Islands and 23% are endemic to Galapagos.

1. Intertidal marine life
   Echinoderms - sea urchins, sea star, sea cucumbers, sand dollars
   Crustaceans - barnacles, crabs (Sally lightfoot), lobsters, shrimp
   Molluscs - snails, chitons, shellfish, squid and octopus
   Cnidarians - sea anemones, jellyfish and corals
   Porferans — sponges, corals, yellow-black coral *
2. Cartilage fish
   Galapagos (Requiem) shark *

White-tipped reef shark

Scalloped hammerhead shark
Whale shark
Horn shark
Blacktip shark
Silvertip shark
Spotted eagle ray

Aquila ray

Diamond stingray

Sorten manta ray

Golden cowray

Jewel moray

Panama conger eel *

Galapagos garden eel

3. Damselfish:
   Giant, Bumpehead, White-taiied, Yellowtailed, Panamic Sargeant Major, Night Sargeant, Brown Chromis
4. Seabass:
   Bacalao, Golden, Camotillo, Panamic Graysloy, Flag Cabrilla, Barred Serrano, Creole Fish (Gringo)
5. Parrotfish:
   Bumphead, Blue chin, Bicolor, Azure
6. Wrasse:
   Rainbow, Harlequin, Cnameleon, Sunset, Spinser, Streamer Hogfish, Goldspot Sheepshead, Hawkfish, Blacktip Cardinal fish, Sabertooth Blenny, Bravo Clinid Red light Goby, Blue-banded Goby, Four eyed Bienny, Bullseye puffersish, Guineafowl Puffer, Black Triggerfish, Finescale Triggerfish, Yellow-tailed Goatfish, Trumpetfish, Reef Cornetfish, Spotted Porcupinefish, Scorpionfish, Red lipped Batfish, Galapagos Clingfish, Night Lizardfish, Rainbow Scorpionfish, Coral hawkfish, Thread Herring, Anchovy, Milkfish, Lizard fish, Flying fish, Pacific Seahorse
7. Other fish: