A.+cristatus

=Galapagos Marine Iguana= __Class__: Sauropsida __Order__: Squamata __Family__: Iguanidae __Genus__: Amblyrhynchus __Species__: A. Cristatus  __Appearance__ Marine Iguanas are large lizard-like reptiles. They grow up to 4 or 5 feet, and about half of that length is their tail. They are black and dark grey. They sometimes have a "white wig" on their head which is made from the salt they expel from their glands

__Anatomy__
 * 1) spiky dorsal fins
 * 2) blunt noses
 * 3) razor-sharp teeth
 * 4) long, sharp claws for gripping rocks
 * 5) nasal salt glands that clean excess salt out of their blood (they sneeze it out)
 * 6) laterally flattened tail for swimming
 * 7) ectothermic
 * 8) shrinking backbone depending the availability of food
 * 9) forelimbs for walking
 * 10) fusiform body

**ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT** Year Assessed: 2004 Justification: Population declines have been traced to these factors and are the reason for endangerment-  __Migration__ The Marine Iguana does not migrate because they are native to the Galapagos Islands, and that is the only place they live. They will occasionally move around the small islands that make up Galapagos, but for the most part they stay in one place.  __Population__ There is not a specific population number, but the estimate is from 200,000 to 300,000 for now
 * El Niño weather patterns periodically affecting their food source
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">pollution increase
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">predatation from exotic species brought onto the island

<span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128);">__Survival Trends__ Marine Iguanas are a threatened species due to many factors. Like the ones listed above under the Endangered Species Act. Their population fluctuates, but usually remains in lower numbers. When food is abundant, there are more of them, but the weather has been affecting their food source. High sea temperatures prevent the growth of the algae that they eat, and they can die of starvation if the algae is not growing at certain times.

<span style="color: rgb(18, 18, 181);">__Food__ Marine Iguanas diet usually consists of: - algae found in tidal pools or on rocks - occasionally they also eat grasshoppers and crustaceans Marine Iguanas are eaten by: - hawks - owls - sharks and large fish (when they are diving) - cats and dogs that are brought onto the island

<span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 128);">__Reproduction__ Mating season starts in December and goes until March. During this time, the male iguanas skin changes to either a red or green hue. When a male finds a female, he mounts her from behind and holds onto the back of her neck. 4-5 weeks after mating, the female will go and lay her eggs. She will incubate them for about 95 days. Female iguanas can lay between 1-6 eggs. After hatching, the young look around for a little and then run for cover. They are on their own from then on and not are not taken care of by their parents. <span style="color: rgb(82, 81, 81);"> __Economic Importance__ Marine Iguanas are important to tourism in the Galapagos Islands. These unique creatures were observed by Charles Darwin, and even though he called them "hideous-looking", he still was marveled with their ecological adaptations.

<span style="color: rgb(128, 128, 0);">__CONSERVATION__
 * <span style="color: rgb(128, 128, 0);">they are under Ecuador protection laws
 * <span style="color: rgb(128, 128, 0);">listed in CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species**)** Appendix II
 * <span style="color: rgb(128, 128, 0);">states that they are not threatened with extinction, but are under strict regulation

<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">__Solutions__
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">STOP POLLUTING!
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Do not allow as many exotic animals onto the Galapagos Islands because they are affecting the species that are native to the island

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">The Galapagos Marine Iguana only lives on the Galapagos Islands. The islands are located in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of South America. The islands are mostly covered in volcanic ash or sand, and the iguanas live on the are rock cliffs that are on the islands. __OCEAN__ Temperature: 26-30 degrees C Salinity: 33.5-34 PS 0-10 degrees latitude In the Pacific Ocean there are geological processes like: -earthquakes -active volcanoes -sea floor spreading -trenches -subduction zones Currents: North and South Equatorial Current Average Tidal Range: .80

__ <span style="color: rgb(106, 1, 106);"> QUESTION <span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 128);">S!! __<span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 128);"><span style="color: rgb(106, 1, 106);"> 1. What is one way the Galapagos Marine Iguana is endangered? 2. When the Marine Iguana sneezes, what is it trying to get rid of? 3. What type of predators do the Marine Iguanas have?

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