Discover the wonders of Ecuador, Galapagos & South America https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging Fri, 29 Aug 2025 12:00:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Discover the wonders of Ecuador, Galapagos & South America https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging 32 32 Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Waved albatross https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/unique-animals-of-the-galapagos-islands-waved-albatross/ Wed, 16 Nov 2022 13:26:15 +0000 https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/?p=8043

Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Waved albatross

Waved albatross https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waved_albatross

The largest bird found on the Galapagos is the waved albatross. It’s also the only species of albatross found entirely in the tropics. Though the species soars over long distances, it breeds exclusively on the Galapagos Islands.

You should look for particular Galapagos islands itinerary to spot them. We’ll be happy to help you to choose the best Ecuador Galapagos islands tour.

Description

The Galapagos albatross reaches a length of 89 cm and weighs about 2 kg, with a wingspan of 230-240 cm. The head is mostly white, the crown and occiput are yellowish. The chin, throat and chest are also white with a gray worm-like pattern, especially on the sides of the chest and torso. The belly is chocolate brown. The upper part of the body is chestnut in color, on the back of the head, tail and tail coverts there is also a grayish worm-like pattern, the lower part of the tail with a pale spot and worm-like pattern contrasts with the chocolate brown tail. The wings on the upper side are chocolate-brown without a pattern, the shaft of the flight feathers is a distinct yellowish-white color. Undertail is chocolate brown. The undersides of the wings are dark at the edges, white in the center. The under-wing coverts are also white.

Large yellowish beak, dark brown eyes. Paws are pale blue.

Reproduction

Galapagos albatrosses nest in the southeast of the Galapagos island of Espanola, with several pairs also on Plata Island. Nesting takes place every year. Birds nest on volcanic soil, surrounded by rocks and covered with sparse vegetation, more recently also in denser bush. Nesting colonies form at the end of March, and oviposition occurs from mid-April to the end of June. Chicks become independent from late December to early January, reaching sexual maturity in 4-6 years.

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Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrfTwkLDMfE

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]]> Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Large painted locusts https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/unique-animals-of-the-galapagos-islands-large-painted-locusts/ Mon, 14 Nov 2022 13:32:44 +0000 https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/?p=8029

Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Large painted locusts

Large painted locusts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schistocerca_melanocera

These beautiful colorful locusts, endemic to the Galapagos Islands, typically grow to around 8 centimeters in length. The large painted locusts are an important part of the food chain on the islands, serving as principal prey for lava lizards https://galapagosy.com/galapagos-news/galapagos-lava-lizards/ and the Galapagos hawk

You can spot them during your Galapagos islands excursions. Galapagos guide will tell you all the details about this species.

Description

he large painted locust (Schistocerca melanocera) is endemic to the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, except Española Island. The locusts form a large part of the diet of the Galápagos hawk and lava lizards. Can be up to 8 cm long.

Threats: Lava lizards and Galapagos hawks are native predators, however it is unlikely that this has a detrimental effect on the population size of the locust.

The best option is Galapagos islands day tours! We’ll help you to choose best islands to visit in Galapagos for observing this species.

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]]> Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Magnificent frigatebird https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/unique-animals-of-the-galapagos-islands-magnificent-frigatebird/ Fri, 11 Nov 2022 16:36:38 +0000 https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/?p=8008

Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Magnificent frigatebird

Magnificent frigatebird https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificent_frigatebird

There are few birds easier to recognize than male magnificent frigatebirds. They have a giant red throat pouch which makes for a bright, stunning display when fully inflated. It’s almost comical to see them puff up. Of course, the brighter the pouch, the more attractive they appear to females.

 

You can spot them during your 4 day Galapagos cruise. We’ll be happy to help you choose from Galapagos ships.

Description

The magnificent frigate is a rather large bird, its size can reach 102 cm, and its wingspan is from 217 to 229 cm. It weighs from 1.1 to 1.6 kg. This species has a long and forked tail. Narrow and long wings form the letter W in flight. The plumage is brilliantly black; the females have a white strip on the underside of the body. The plumage of young birds is white on the head and on the stomach, and on the upper side of the body is brown-black with light brown strokes. Adult plumage appears only at the age of four to six years. Due to the fact that the plumage does not tear away water, magnificent frigates hardly swim. Males have a red throat sac that inflates like a balloon during the mating season. The paws are short, and four fingers crowned with strong claws are connected to each other by small membranes. Due to the fact that the legs are short and weak, the magnificent frigate cannot walk on the ground, but only stay on the branches. But in the air element this bird is a real ace, able to perform acrobatic maneuvers and soar for hours without flapping wings. Able to fly for many days without landing.

Reproduction

During the mating season, the males sit on the branches and demonstrate their bright puffed-up throat sac, accompanied by a loud cry. Both parents are involved in building the nest, hatching eggs and feeding the chicks. The nest is located on mangrove trees, bushes or cacti, less often on the ground. One white egg is laid, which incubates for 40-50 days. At the age of 5-6 months, the chick learns to fly, but his parents continue to feed him for about six months. The lifespan of magnificent frigates can reach 26 years.

 

Come to visit Galapagos islands tourist attractions! We’ll help you to choose the best way to visit Galapagos.

 

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI9UJXiN284

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]]> Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Lava lizards https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/unique-animals-of-the-galapagos-islands-lava-lizards/ Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:58:29 +0000 https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/?p=7998

Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Lava lizards

Lava lizards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microlophus_albemarlensis

One of the most common animals found on the Galapagos are the islands’ small lizards, often affectionately referred to as “lava lizards.” There are at least seven recognized species, each with unique traits. Like with the Galapagos’ finches, the variety of species of lava lizards represent a remarkable example of adaptive radiation.

 

You can spot them during your Galapagos cruise holidays. We’ll be happy to organize your Galapagos adventure.

Description

Adult Galápagos lava lizards range from around 50 to 100 mm long SVL (snout-to-vent length; excluding tail which can be equal or longer to SVL), with average and maximum sizes varying between islands. Males are on average larger than females, being twice to three times as heavy, with average body sizes of 77 to 91 mm SVL, compared to 63–71 mm of females. In addition to size, there are significant color and morphological differences between sexes, although color varies across islands. Males are blue gray to brownish, spotted black to ash gray, and tend to have dark crossbands on the neck and anterior portion of the back. The throat has a large black blotch, extending to the base of the forelimbs. Males have a crest of spined scales running down the length of the body, which are longer than those of females. Males also have proportionally longer hind legs.

Reproduction

Prior to mating, males seize the skin of the necks or backs of females in their jaws, and sometimes carry them short distances before mating. Females lay clutches of 1 to 6 white, leathery, elliptical eggs, with larger clutches generally occurring in larger females. On Santa Cruz Island, 2 eggs is most common. Females have been observed digging short burrows to lay eggs in May and June.

 

Go on your Galapagos family cruise! We’ll help you to choose one of the best Galapagos yacht.

 

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QVzu9nHyQU

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]]> Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Galapagos hawk https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/unique-animals-of-the-galapagos-islands-galapagos-hawk/ Tue, 08 Nov 2022 13:41:55 +0000 https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/?p=7992

Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Galapagos hawk

Galapagos hawk

As the only diurnal raptor to inhabit the islands, the Galapagos hawk is hard to miss. Though it mostly preys on small animals such as locusts, centipedes and lizards, this raptor is a top predator and has been known to swoop down on iguanas https://galapagosy.com/galapagos-news/marine-iguana/ and giant tortoise hatchlings.

You can spot them during your Galapagos islands Ecuador vacation. Ask us for cruises to Galapagos islands Ecuador.

 

Description

Galapagos hawk up to 56 cm long and weighing from 650 to 850 g. Sexual dimorphism is not expressed. Plumage is dark brown, tail with gray stripes. The female is slightly larger than the male.

 

Studies of the mitochondrial DNA of the Galapagos hawk and its closest relative, the Buteo swainsoni, showed that the ancestors of the Galapagos hawk populated the islands about 300,000 years ago. At the same time, they are recent immigrants of the islands, compared with Darwin finches, whose ancestors arrived on the islands about 2-3 million years ago [4]. There is also evidence that the Galapagos hawk are already at the beginning of the division into several species.

Spread & Lifestyle

The Galapagos hawk lives exclusively on the Galapagos Islands. Its habitat covers the territory from rainforests to steppes and mountains.

 

The Galapagos hawk nests on trees, often reusing the same nest. Each nesting nest increases in size over the years. Both male and female feed their chicks.

 

A female mates on average with two (one to eight) males. Moreover, there are absolutely monogamous populations, as well as populations where all females have several males. Males are often not closely related to each other and all are involved in feeding the chicks.

 

Both male and female incubate up to 3 eggs. After the birth of the chicks, only the male hunts, while the female remains and feeds their prey, later both parents hunt and feed the brood. More often, only one chick survives, which at the age of two months becomes independent. He stays up to 4 months with his parents until they drive him away.

 

Come to spend your vacations to Galapagos! We’ll help you to choose from the best Galapagos trips.

 

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Vt_lXp-_E

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]]> Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Blue-footed boobies https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/unique-animals-of-the-galapagos-islands-blue-footed-boobies/ Mon, 07 Nov 2022 14:01:49 +0000 https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/?p=7973

Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Blue-footed boobies

Blue-footed boobies

The funny name almost matches these creatures’ funny look. Blue-footed boobies are most easily recognized by their signature feet. The birds’ mating ritual is also an entertaining affair, as males lift their feet up and down in a strutting display for the females.

 

You can spot them on Galapagos excursions in the National park accompanied by Galapagos islands travel guide. Ask us for Galapagos islands accommodation during your trip.

Description

The blue-footed booby is 80 cm long. Females are usually larger and heavier than males. The weight of the birds is approximately 1.5 kg. The legs of the birds have bright blue swimming membranes – a hallmark of this species. The tail and wings are usually long and pointed. The plumage is brown-white, the beak is gray-green. Females around the pupils have a dark pigment ring, which visually enlarges their eyes. In nesting places, their behavior towards people is bold.

Spread & Lifestyle

Blue-footed booby nests mainly on the Galapagos Islands, as well as on the arid islands of the Gulf of California, on the west coast of Mexico, on islands near Ecuador and northern Peru. Of the 40,000 pairs of these birds, approximately half live in the Galapagos Islands, where blue-footed boobies are protected by law.

Reproduction

The blue legs of the males play a significant role during the current period. Females prefer a male with blue-colored legs and neglect a male whose legs look gray-blue.

 

Birds nest in colonies on the islands of Central and South America. Their nesting sites are located at a relatively far distance from each other. The nesting period lasts all year, with the female laying at every 8 months. Usually, the female lays 2 or 3 white eggs for one week, and both parents hatch her 40 days. Chicks leave the nest after 102 days. At 3-4 years they become sexually mature.

Population decline

Concerns of a decline in the booby population of the Galápagos Islands prompted a research project in its cause. The project, completed in April 2014, confirmed the population decline. The blue-footed booby population appears to be having trouble breeding, thus is slowly declining. The decline is feared to be long-term, but annual data collection is needed for a firm conclusion that this is not a normal fluctuation.

 

Come to spend your Galapagos islands family vacation! We’ll help you with getting to Galapagos islands.

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]]> Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Galapagos fur seal https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/unique-animals-of-the-galapagos-islands-galapagos-fur-seal/ Tue, 01 Nov 2022 16:46:38 +0000 https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/?p=7954

Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Galapagos fur seal

Galapagos fur seal (lat. Arctocephalus galapagoensis) is a species of eared seals from the subfamily of fur seals. Belongs to the genus of southern fur seals. You can spot them in the Galapagos national park.

Ask us for Galapagos islands boat tours.

Description

Galápagos fur seals are the smallest otariids. They are born with a black natal coat that they molt to reveal a lighter brown coat before becoming adults. Galápagos fur seals display sexual dimorphism. The males are up to 2x heavier than the females and 1–1.3 times longer. Males grow to be 1.5 m (5 feet) on average and weigh about 64 kg (140 lb). Females grow to be 1.25 m on average and weigh 27 kg (60 lb).

Spread & Lifestyle

The Galapagos Fur Seal is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. It does not migrate, spends all its life near the islands. It is classified as a non-migrant species. However, recent research has documented the presence of Galápagos fur seals in Mexico and Guatemala.

More than 70% of the time they spend on land. They feed mainly on numerous fish and cephalopods. Food is obtained at night, at the surface of the ocean, rarely they appear at a depth of more than 150 m.

 

Reproduction

Galápagos fur seals live in large colonies on the rocky beaches of the Galápagos Islands. These colonies are then divided into territories by the male seals during breeding season, which is mid-August to mid-November, with a peak in late September and early October. Each successful reproductive female will choose a territory on the beach to pup on.

 

Maternal care

Galápagos fur seals have the lowest reproductive rate reported in seals, and it takes an unusually long time to raise seal pups to independence. Females bear only one pup at a time, and she remains with her newborn for a week before leaving to feed. She then periodically returns to the pup and stays to suckle it for a few days before leaving on another hunting trip. Females recognize their own pups by smell and sound, and pups also learn to identify their mothers by the females’ “pup attraction calls”. Mother-pup recognition is crucial because females exclusively nurse their own pups, often violently rejecting strange pups that approach. Orphaned seal pups usually try to sneak up on sleeping or calling females to suckle, but stealing milk is not enough to sustain the pups, and they usually die within a month.

 

Come to spend your holidays in the Galapagos islands! We’ll help you with getting to Galapagos.

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]]> Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands Galapagos penguin https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/unique-animals-of-the-galapagos-islands-galapagos-penguin/ Thu, 27 Oct 2022 13:50:55 +0000 https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/?p=7940

Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands Galapagos penguin

Galapagos Penguin Facts, Penguin Species Living in Tropical Climates

 

Penguins are a species of sea bird that generally live in cold waters in the southern hemisphere. But apparently there are also types of penguins that live in tropical areas, the Galapagos Penguin. As the name implies, these penguins can only be found in the Galapagos Islands which belong to Ecuador.

 

  1. Endemic penguins from the Galapagos Islands

Galapagos penguins are endemic seabirds in the Galapagos Islands that belong to the territory of Ecuador. Its presence is mainly in the west of these islands, and 90 percent of them are on Fernandina Island and the west coast of Isabela Island. The rest can be found on the islands of Bartolome and Floreana, as well as various small islands in the archipelago.

 

  1. Can adjust to the tropical climate

Galapagos penguins are unique compared to other penguin species, because they can adapt to tropical climates. But these penguins can adjust to existing conditions because of the presence of Humboldt and Cromwell currents in western waters in South America.

 

  1. Including the type of small penguin

Galapagos penguins are small species of penguins which can only grow to a maximum length of 49 cm and weigh up to 2.5 kg. So it becomes the second smallest penguin after little penguins originating from Australia and New Zealand.

 

  1. Types of monogamous animals and take turns in caring for their children

One of the highlights of the Galapagos penguin is that it tends to be monogamous or only to marry one partner for life. When they lay eggs, penguins will make nests on the coasts, and both males and females will nurture and feed their children alternately, according to the Galapagos website.

 

  1. Included in endangered category and protected

However, this bird is considered rare and protected by the local government, even it is included in the endangered category according to the IUCN Red List https://www.iucnredlist.org/. Penguin population is also declining from year to year due to the number of predators, in the form of seals, sharks, plus their predator eggs such as dogs and cats.

 

That was some interesting scientific facts from Galapagos penguins that are certainly interesting to know. Hopefully it can increase your knowledge about rare animal species.

 

You can see these species on board Galapagos cruises https://www.ecuadorwonders.com/en/galapagos-islands-cruises-tours/cruises-islands-cruises-tours/. As well as other rare species as Galapagos flightless cormorant.

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]]> Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands Galapagos finches https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/unique-animals-of-the-galapagos-islands-galapagos-finches/ Tue, 25 Oct 2022 13:48:13 +0000 https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/?p=7932

Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands Galapagos finches

FEEDING ON BLOOD. SCIENTISTS NAME GALAPAGOS VAMPIRE CREATURES

 

As you know, in nature there are predators and herbivores. But some living organisms prefer food that shocks a person.

 

At least three types of dangerous vampires are widely distributed and known in the world, which not only drink other people’s blood, but also carry various diseases. Among them are mosquitoes, ticks and bats. The last, by the way, influenced the images of classical vampires in cinema and literature – nightlife, cloak wings and sharp fangs.

 

sharp-beaked ground finch

These little birds, whose weight is only 20 grams, do not drink water, but the blood of other birds. They live in the Galapagos Islands, where there is almost no fresh water. Come to spot them!

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]]> Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands Galapagos cormorants https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/unique-animals-of-the-galapagos-islands-galapagos-cormorants/ Mon, 24 Oct 2022 13:53:17 +0000 https://ecuadorwonders.com/staging/?p=7919

Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands Galapagos cormorants

Galapagos cormorants have forgotten how to fly because of non-growing cilia

 

American and Chilean biologists have discovered how the Galapagos flightless cormorant lost its ability to fly. Representatives of this species have changed the functions of proteins that regulate the growth or work of cilia (cilia – important cellular organelles), and the absence or poor functioning of cilia can affect bone growth. The study is published in Science.

 

Cormorants (Phalacrocorax) are waterfowl of the size of a duck or a goose, which inhabit colonies in coastal areas. Now there are about 40 species of cormorants on the planet, the only flightless of them is the Galapagos cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi). Their wings are shorter than those of other species, and the chest is flatter. At the same time, phylogenetic studies have shown that, unlike penguins and ratites, (ostriches, rheas, kiwi), which lost their ability to fly about 50 million years ago), the Galapagos cormorants “lost” most of their wings about two million years ago, by evolutionary standards it happened recently. Therefore, according to scientists, a fresh example of P. Harrisi can be used to study how birds lose their ability to fly.

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