Completed
Marine Iguana
Amblyrhynchus cristatus
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyIguanidae (Iguanas and Chuckwallas)
- GenusAmblyrhynchus (Marine iguanas)
- SpeciesAmblyrhynchus cristatus (Marine Iguana)
In 3 days >90%
5,791 Verified sightings at Galápagos Islands From 2019 to 2026
5,791 In 1 park
August Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
Completed
Completed
About the Marine Iguana
The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), also known as the sea iguana, saltwater iguana, or Galápagos marine iguana, is a species of iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador). Unique among modern lizards, it is a marine reptile that has the ability to forage in the sea for algae, which make up almost all of its diet. Marine iguanas are the only extant lizard that spends time in a marine environment. Large males are able to dive to find this food source, while females and smaller males feed during low tide in the intertidal zone. They mainly live in colonies on rocky shores where they bask after visiting the relatively cold water or intertidal zone, but can also be seen in marshes, mangrove swamps and beaches. Large males defend territories for a short period, but smaller males have other breeding strategies. After mating, the female digs a nest hole in the soil where she lays her eggs, leaving them to hatch on their own a few months later.
Marine iguanas vary in appearance between the different islands and several subspecies are recognized. Although relatively large numbers remain and it is locally abundant, this protected species is considered threatened, primarily from El Niño cycles, introduced predators and chance events like oil spills. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Marine Iguana in Galápagos Islands
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Zoos & Centres Where Found
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden | 🇺🇸 United States |
Closest Relatives at Galápagos Islands
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Marine Iguana in Galápagos Islands?
Very likely
About 80% of wildlife watchers report a Marine Iguana sighting in Galápagos Islands on a given day, based on 5,791 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the most-seen of the 31 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Marine Iguana in Galápagos Islands?
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Marine Iguana in Galápagos Islands on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
What time of day is best to see a Marine Iguana?
Between 3 and 6 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Marine Iguana sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Where else can you see a Marine Iguana?
Only Galápagos Islands, in our data
Galápagos Islands is the only park on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Marine Iguana sightings: about 80% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.
Which relatives of the Marine Iguana live in Galápagos Islands?
Same family: Iguanidae
The closest relatives of the Marine Iguana that you can see in Galápagos Islands (family Iguanidae, Iguanas and Chuckwallas) are Common Land Iguana (about 60%) and Santa Fe Land Iguana (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
Where does the Marine Iguana sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Marine Iguana is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Galápagos Islands (5,791 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
