Wednesday 11 September 2013

Why Can't I See That Animal - Camouflage on the Galapagos Islands



The heads of these marine iguanas basking in the sun look just like the surrounding rocks.
Survival of the fittest. Adaptation of the species.

Familiar phrases, but what do they mean? In the simplest terms, they mean that animals have, over time, changed in ways that give them the ability to survive despite challenges in their environment. One such adaptation is the ability to change color to blend into the surrounding landscape, thus offering protection from predators. The volcanic land masses on the Galapagos Islands are predominantly shades of earthy tones in browns, tans, blacks, siennas, whites, grays and dusty greens. With few exceptions, this means the birds and wild life blend into their surroundings, protecting them from hawks and other prey.

In this post, I share with you some of my photos that graphically show how millions of years of adaptation protect our precious life forms.


You might walk by this bird's nest dozens of times before realizing its presence.
A little boobie chick hiding in the bushes.