Common name : Galápagos marine iguana
Scientific name : Amblyrhynchus cristatus
Family : Iguanidae
Native to : Galápagos Islands
Interesting fact : Marine iguana sneezes out excess salt from its body through glands near its nose. This encrusted salt forms a white patch on its head.
Conservation status : Vulnerable
The marine iguana is the only lizard adapted for an oceanic life. Their facial features are quite unique with wide set eyes, flattened faces with encrusted salt on the heads. They are good swimmers and can stay under water for 20 minutes. They inhabit marshes and mangrove beaches. This marine forager is a vegetarian feeding exclusively on sea algae and seaweed.
