Sea Birds, Mammals, And Reptiles Around Our Islands
Birds
The Galapagos Islands have 47 species of seabirds. Five are endemic, and there are eight endemic subspecies. The birds can be residents, migrants, or vagrants (Swash & Still 2000).
Sea Birds Around Our Islands
| Birds | Seen | Breeding |
| Brown Pelican | all around | no |
| Penguin | on a few beaches | no |
| Audubon's Shearwater | all around | no |
| Dark-rumped Petrel | a few spots | 2 colonies in interior |
| Wedge-rumped Storm Petrel | all around | no |
| Madeiran Storm Petrel | a few spots | 8 colonies |
| Elliot's Storm Petrel | all around | no |
| Magnificent Frigatebird | all around | 2 colonies off shore of Santa Cruz |
| Great Frigatebird | all around | 1 colony off shore of Santa Cruz |
| Red-footed Booby | occasional | no |
| Nazca Booby | all around | 4 colonies: 3 between main islands+1 on Santa Fe |
| Blue-footed Booby | all around | 10 colonies |
| Swallow-tailed Gull | all around | 17 colonies |
| Lava Gull | all around | no |
| Red-billed Tropicbird | all around | 10 colonies: 9 on Santa Cruz and 1 on Santa Fe |
| Common Noddy | all around | no |
Marine Mammals
| Mammal | Info |
| Sea Lion | -endemic subspecies -seen around coasts and occasionally further out -5 breeding colonies |
| Fur Seal | -endemic -seen around coasts and occasionally further out -4 breeding colonies |
| Whales and Dolphins | -25 species -all migrants |
Marine Reptiles
| Reptile | Info |
| Leatherback Turtle | migrant species |
| Olive Ridley Turtle | migrant species |
| Hawksbill Turtle | migrant species |
| Black (Pacific Green) Turtle | -seen close to shores -1 breeding colony on Santa Cruz, santiago, and Santa Fe (3 total) |
| Marine Iguanas | -shore areas -subspecies hassi on Santa Cruz and mertensi on Santiago |
| Marine Snakes | -live in sea -venomous -population increases in El Nino years |
MIT