Galapagos Adaptations Exploring how species have adapted to

Galapagos Adaptations Exploring how species have adapted to their island environments over time.

Galapagos Animal Gallery • The paired photographs you will see depict similar animals of the same size. • Compare these images carefully. • List any differences you notice, no matter how small. • Briefly describe each animal’s habitat and diet.

National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http: //pubs. nsta. org/galapagos/activities/gallery 2. html (2006). Darwin & the Galapagos Islands. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Go Visit Galapagos Web site: http: //www. govisitgalapagos. com/darwin/default. asp

(Jan 3, 2007). Photos/Mixed Selection. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from www. CQJ. dk Travelling, Sports Fishing & Photography Web site: http: //www. cqj. dk/mix-photo-eng. htm (2007). Galapagos Pictures, Galapagos Wildlife. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from in-quito. com Galapagos Pictures Web site: http: //www. inquito. com/galapagos/pictures-2. htm

Is the only sea-going iguana in the world Flat tail Square nose Dark coloration Partially webbed feet Coloration camouflages them in the dark lava on which they live Enables iguanas of all ages to absorb more heat from the sun

A large relative of the South American and Caribbean terrestrial iguana Round tail Pointed nose Brownish-red in color on top Yellow-orange underneath Eats grass and other ground plants, especially the large prickly-pear cactus.

Marine Iguana vs. Land Iguana Lives near the water Long claws for gripping rocks Lives in dry regions on land Short claws Short snout Long snout Dark color Light color National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http: //pubs. nsta. org/galapagos/activities/gallery 2. html (2006). Darwin & the Galapagos Islands. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Go Visit Galapagos Web site: http: //www. govisitgalapagos. com/darwin/default. asp

National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http: //pubs. nsta. org/galapagos/activities/gallery/gallery 2. html

(2007). Galapagos Islands Guided Tour. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from AGalapagos Islands Guided Tour Isla Santa Cruz, Ecuador Web site: http: //www. discovergalapagos. com/santacru. html (2006). Tortoise T-Shirts. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from Jungle. Walk. com Gifts for Animal Lovers Web site: http: //www. junglewalk. com/shop/Tortoise-tshirts. htm

One of the major groups of giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands Arched carapace (shell) in the front Long legs Long snout Long neck that allows it to reach for its food high above the ground Found in the dry areas of Espanola, Pinzon, Pinta, and Fernandina Islands

One of the major groups of giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands Rounded shell Blunt snout Shorter neck Found on islands with rich vegetation (like Santa Cruz and Isabela) Larger and heavier Rounded shell allows it to move through the thick vegetation more easily than the saddleback tortoise

Saddleback Domed Tortoise vs. Tortoise Lives in dry region Eats leaves high in trees Highly arched shell opening Long neck Long legs National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http: //pubs. nsta. org/galapagos /activities/gallery 2. ht ml Lives in an area of thick vegetation Eats grasses and leaves close to ground Low, rounded shell opening Short neck Short legs National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http: //pubs. nsta. org/galapagos/acti vities/gallery 2. html

National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http: //pubs. nsta. org/galapagos/activities/gallery/gallery 2. html

(2007). Flightless Cormorant. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from ARKive: Images of Life on Earth Web site: http: //www. arkive. org/species/GES/birds/Phalacrocorax_har risi/ (2007). Cormorant Showing Off Photo. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from Trek. Nature Web site: http: //www. treknature. com/gallery/North_America/Ca nada/photo 45462. htm

Found only in the Galapagos Dark with black coloration above and brown underneath Streamlined body, thick neck, larger beak Strong legs Sparsely feathered vestigial wings The wings are small and useless for flight Webbed feet Uses its strong legs and webbed feet to swim and capture fish, eels, and octopuses

28 other living species of cormorants, all of which use their wings for flight Well-developed wing muscles, making their bodies thicker than the flightless cormorant Legs are much more refined because they do not use them for swimming that much Eat mainly fish Thin neck, smaller beak

Flightless Cormorant vs. Cormorant Found only in the Galapagos Not found in the Galapagos Small, vestigial wings Long, well-developed wings Streamlined body for swimming Thick, strong legs for swimming National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http: //pubs. nsta. org/galapa gos/activities/gallery/galle ry 2. html Heavier body Slender Legs National Science Teachers Association, NSTA Galapagos. Retrieved January 4, 2007, from Classroom Investigations: Galapagos Adaptations Web site: http: //pubs. nsta. org/galapagos/ activities/gallery 2. html

Looking at Habitat Adaptations • Choose one animal from each pair. • Explain how the traits you observed may help the animal survive or thrive in its habitat. • Give at least three examples of different traits and explain each one.

Final Questions 1. How have isolation and the unique conditions of the Galapagos Islands given rise to the unusual features of Galapagos animals? 2. Would they survive if they were introduced into similar ecosystems elsewhere in the world? 3. What kind of adaptations would allow existing Galapagos animals to survive in other habitats around the world? (Remember, organisms can’t adapt because they want to or need to. )