Animals of the Galapagos Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mockingbird

Before you can understand why there are so many unique species on the Galapagos you first need to look at how the islands are created. Each islands has been created by volcanic eruptions. The islands are located on a gigantic hotspot, right on the equator, about 1,000 km (600 mi) from the South American mainland. The tectonic plate on which the islands are located slowly moves in south-eastern direction. The most recently formed island still have active volcanoes and are therefore to a large extend covered by a layer of solidified lava. As the volcanoes become higher they push up the warm air. In the upper atmosphere the warm air cools down, what creates fog and clouds. Rain and fog ensure the growth of plantlife. That's why middle-aged islands are much greener. When the volcanoes are no longer active the islands start to erode and collapse under their own weight. This is why older islands are much smaller, flatter and drier. Because of this each island has its own unique environment and is inhabited by animals that are perfectly adapted to that specific environment.

It's no coincidence that Charles Darwin has developed his theory of evolution after a visit to the Galapagos. He noticed that the beaks of the mockingbirds he had collected differed depending on the place where they came from. There are four species of mockingbirds on the Galapagos. Since Darwin's visit the Floreana mockingbird has become extinct on the island. Tiny populations survive on two very small inlets, making the Floreana mockingbird one of the rarest, most endangered birds of the world. The three other species are the San Cristobal mockingbird, the Española mockingbird, and the most commonly occurring Galapagos mockingbird (displayed in the picture).

Darwin also had a large collection of finches but unfortunately he hadn't labelled them. The thirteen species he collected were described by another scientist, John Gould, after Darwin had returned to England. The term 'Darwin's finch' was first used by Percy Lowe in 1936, more than a century after Darwin's voyage. The beaks of the mockingbirds, and the finches, vary depending on the food sources that are available on the islands where they occur. Birds mainly feeding on small seeds will have different beaks than birds that feed on larger seeds or insects.

Answer: By the shape of their shell

Just like the beaks of mockingbirds and finches the shells of the Galapagos tortoises are different depending on which islands they occur. There are two main shell categories: domed and saddlebacks. On the island Española there is no other vegetation than the opuntia cactus, whose edible parts are high up. There a domed shell would be useless because the tortoise wouldn't be able to reach its food source. On Española shells have a large peak at the front which makes them look a bit like a saddle. Also, the necks of the tortoises are longer so they can better reach their food. Within those two main categories there are slight variations in shape so you can immediately recognize from which island a tortoise originates. The picture in the quiz was taken on Santa Cruz, a middle-aged island with lots of vegetation. The tortoise therefore has a domed shell, suitable for grazing and moving through dense vegetation.

The Galapagos tortoises are the most famous inhabitants of the Galapagos. The islands are even named after them as 'galapagos' means tortoise in Spanish. They can weigh up to 250 kg (550 lb) and can become 100 years old. There used to be 15 different species of which unfortunately 4 are now extinct. Since the arrival of mankind on the islands the number of tortoises has decreased dramatically. Pirates and merchants used the tortoises as a food source on their ships (tortoises can survive for a long time without being fed). The introduction of foreign species was also detrimental for the tortoises. Rats feast on their eggs and because of overgrazing by goats many tortoises died of hunger. Since the '60s, programs are in effect to protect the tortoises. In 1972, on the small northern island Pinta, the last tortoise of his species was discovered. This tortoise was named Lonesome George and has become the most famous tortoise on earth, a symbol of the battle against extinction. George's death in 2012 meant the Pinta tortoise is now also on the list of extinct animals.

Answer: True

The Galapagos are located on the crossroads of the cold water Cromwell and Humboldt currents and warm water currents coming from Central America. The islands push up the nutrient rich cold water currents to mix with the warm water above. The islands provide the water with another important ingredient. The abrasion of the waves against the iron-rich volcanic platform of the islands brings iron into the surface waters. This mix creates ideal conditions for vast blooms of plankton. Many animals such as small crustaceans, jellyfish and the young of many fish feed on the plankton. They in turn provide food for larger fish. Because of these ideal circumstances the Galapagos waters are among the richest of all marine ecosystems. This diversity in marine life has in turn attracted a great variety of seabirds.

Galapagos cormorants, or flightless cormorants as they are also called, feed on squid, eels and small fish. With its big webbed feet and streamlined body the cormorant is an excellent swimmer. The abundance of sealife and lack of predators meant there was no more need to fly. Because of this their wings have become smaller and smaller and their bodies have become bigger. As you can see in the picture their puny wings no longer allow them to fly. Galapagos cormorants are the only cormorants that can't fly.

The lack of big predators is one factor of the increased speed at which creatures evolve in the Galapagos. No predators means more offspring, which in turn means the characteristics of the parents are passed through the generations at a faster pace. Other factors are the isolated location of the islands, the restricted area and limited resources.

Even more remarkable than the flightlessness of the cormorants is their breeding system. Often, when a chick is only around two to three months old, the female goes off to find a new mate, while leaving the male to raise the young for an additional six months until it reaches maturity. The probable reason for this unusual behaviour is the difference in body size between male and female cormorants. Male cormorants are 40% bigger than females. This means they are able to catch bigger prey what makes them more efficient providers. The ability of male cormorants to single-handedly feed their young gives the females the liberty to leave and find a new mate.

Answer: Seaweed

The ancestors of today's marine iguanas originate in South America. Millions of years ago some of them survived the crossing to the Galapagos. They were probably surprised by a flash flood and drifted on the ocean on rafts of floating vegetation. Like many reptiles they could survive for weeks without food or water. When they arrived at the Galapagos they found a harsh environment to survive in. Now the marine iguanas are perfectly adapted to their environment and can be found on practically every island.

Marine iguanas are the only species of the iguana family that can swim and dive. They need this ability to reach their only source of food, seaweed. For every meal they have to overcome the waves and currents. Although they can go without breathing for a long time they need to gobble up their meals within ten minutes. If they stay in the cold water longer their body temperature will drop too much. Besides the ability to swim marine iguanas have adapted in several other ways to their environment. They have developed claws to grasp on underwater rocks, flatter snouts and sharper teeth for better grazing. After their swim the marine iguanas need to warm up again. Therefore their skin is black to better absorb the heat of the sun. They also have a special gland to sneeze out excess salt water. Marine iguanas have one more very special ability. In times of scarcity they are able to shrink their bodies over the course of a few months. This is not just their body fat and muscles, but also their skeleton. Amazing!

Answer: Sally Lightfoot

Sally lightfoot crabs, also known as red rock crabs, are very common on the Pacific coast of the Americas and also on the Galapagos islands.

On the Galapagos they live in symbiosis with marine iguanas of which they eat the parasites, dead skin and algae. They also clean up bodies of dead animals on the beach. Adult lightfoots have hard shells and sharp pincers to protect them against birds of prey. The juveniles on the other hand are black, so they are well camouflaged on the black volcanic coast.

Answer: To attract females

Frigatebirds are fierce hunters whose wingspan can reach up to 2.3 metres (7.5 ft). They mainly feed on fish but also on juvenile marine iguanas and small birds. Occasionally they steal food from other birds. Frigatebirds cannot swim or land on water. They often stay in the air for more than a week.

During breeding season male frigatebirds inflate their gular pouches while vibrating their outstretched wings to impress females and scare off rivals. Frigatebirds only lay one egg per breeding season. Female frigatebirds feed their young for a whole year, males leaves when the chick is about three months. Because it takes so long to raise a chick frigatebirds don't breed every year.

Answer: They do push-ups

Lava lizards are widespread on many islands of the Galapagos. They have diversified into seven different species, living on a number of different islands. They feed on insects and are useful to marine iguanas and sea lions by eating the flies that bother them.

Lava lizards have developed an odd mating system that consists of doing press-ups. The frequency, speed and height at which they pop up their heads differs within the different species, so lava lizards of different islands wouldn't be able to interbreed because they wouldn't be able to communicate.

Answer: They are nocturnal

Swallow-tailed gulls are the only nocturnal gulls in the world. They feed on squid and fish that feed on plankton which comes to the surface at night. They have huge eyes to spot prey during nighttime. During breeding season the adult birds have black plumed heads with red rims around the eyes. Outside breeding season their heads are white with black rims around their eyes. During that time they fly along the Humboldt current towards the coast of Peru and Ecuador. This means swallow-tailed gulls are also the only pelagic gull species in the world.

The lava gull is the other gull species endemic to the Galapagos. They are very rare, with a population estimated at about 800 individuals. Lava gulls are scavengers and can be recognized by a distinctive laughterlike call.

Answer: In a volcano

There are three species of land iguanas on the Galapagos. The Galapagos land iguana (displayed in the picture) is the most frequent one and occurs on many islands. The Barrington land iguana occurs only on the island of Santa Fe. In 2009 a third, entirely new species has been recognized: the pink iguana. As the name suggests this iguana has a mostly pink body, with irregular black stripes on its back and a black tail. The pink iguana only occurs on Wolf volcano, the northernmost volcano on Isabela island. With an estimated number of one hundred the pink iguana is extremely rare and therefore considered critically endangered.

Every breeding season the female Galapagos land iguanas of Fernandina island travel to the summit of the volcano (1,500 m - 4,900 ft). They are looking for places where the ash is warm to lay their eggs. There are limited suitable places so many iguanas have to go down into the volcano to lay their eggs on the caldera floor. Three months later the hatchlings start their perilous journey to reach the vegetated areas on the outer slope, while being hunted by hawks and snakes.

Answer: Red

Red-footed boobies only live on Galapagos and other islands where there are no hawks, as they have no defence against this predator. They lay only one egg and so only have one chick per nesting season.

Blue-footed boobies occur on the Galapagos, on islands near Peru and Ecuador and on the Mexican coast. Adult blue-foots are larger than their red-footed counterparts so they can survive on islands that are also inhabited by hawks. The females are attracted by the blue colour of the males' feet. During breeding season the males engage in an odd courtship display where they lift their feet to attract females. Blue-foots are excellent fishers. They fly up to a height of 25 meters, then plunge into the water at a speed of 100 km/h (60 m/h). They have special airsacs in their skull to protect them against the heavy impact when they make contact with the water. Blue-foots lay two or three eggs and can raise more than one chick if they can find enough food.

Nazca boobies have dull, grey feet and are named after the tectonic plate on which they occur. Half of their population breeds on the Galapagos, the other half on Malpelo island (Colombia). Nazca boobies have odd breeding habits. They lay two eggs per nesting season. Shortly after being born the chicks try to push each other out of the nest, while the parents don't intervene. Only one chick ever survives. Experiments have shown that in case more than one chick survives they later produce less offspring. This means that a one-chick brood is favoured by natural selection. So why do Nazca boobies produce two eggs in the first place? For unknown reasons only 60 % of the Nazca boobies' eggs hatch, so a spare egg is needed to guarantee one surviving chick.