This Godzilla-Like Creature Sneezes Salt

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The Galápagos Islands are famous worldwide for their one-of-a-kind plants and animals. If you’re lucky enough to explore the islands yourself, be sure to keep an eye out for marine iguanas. As seen in this YouTube video, these extraordinary underwater Godzillas are like nothing else on Earth!

From Land Lover to Sea Swimmer

Marine iguanas live only on the Galápagos Islands. Scientists think these unique lizards evolved from land iguanas that got stuck on the islands millions of years ago. The iguanas had to drastically change to survive in such an isolated and remote location.

Like many animals in the Galápagos, marine iguanas adapted through natural selection to fit their new environment better. For example, their diet changed from land plants, fruit, and insects to algae and seaweed. However, marine iguanas still spend much of their time on land. Just like land iguanas, they use the sun for warmth and to regulate their body temperature.

Recent research suggests that marine iguanas and land iguanas started to split and become two different species about 4.5 million years ago. This evolution likely involved two processes over thousands of years: hybridization (different groups mixing together) and speciation (populations branching off and becoming new species).

Although they can swim well, marine iguanas are not typically strong enough to travel from island to island. Because of this, there are now at least 11 different types or subspecies. Each is found in a slightly different area of the Galápagos and has its own unique appearance. The Godzilla marine iguana on San Cristobal Island, for example, is the largest, while Española Island’s “Christmas iguanas” turn a brilliant red and green during the mating season.

The Marine Iguana’s Evolutionary Edge

Over many thousands of years, marine iguanas on the Galápagos Islands became an entirely different species from their land-dwelling ancestors. While land iguanas have round tails, marine iguanas have flat tails, which are much better for swimming. Marine iguanas eat algae and seaweed along the ocean floor. They use their sharp claws to hold onto rocks while they scrape the algae off with their teeth. Their snouts are also shorter and blunter to make it easier to get to the algae.

Marine iguanas take in a lot of saltwater when they eat. Normally, this would be very dangerous for their bodies, but these iguanas have developed a unique ability to “sneeze” out salt. Their bodies filter out the extra salt using a specialized gland, and then they get rid of it by expelling or sneezing it out through their noses.

Another unusual tactic is that marine iguanas can actually shrink their body size if there isn’t enough food. Their bodies can become up to 20% smaller, so they don’t need to eat as much food to survive. Then, when more food is available, they grow back to their original size.

How Long Can a Marine Iguana Hold Its Breath?

Marine iguanas move easily through the water with their flat, paddle-like tails. They swim in a serpentine motion, just like the iguana in this YouTube video. Larger iguanas are stronger and can dive 65 feet or more below the surface. Smaller and younger iguanas usually stick to eating in more shallow waters near the shore.

Since marine iguanas didn’t evolve gills for living underwater, they got really good at holding their breath. They can stay underwater for 30 to 40 minutes at a time!

Sea Monster or Harmless Herbivore?

Marine iguanas might look like miniature sea monsters, but they’re actually herbivores that survive on algae and seaweed. They live peacefully with other animals on land and in the ocean.

However, the marine iguanas themselves face many dangers. Events like El Niño can devastate their populations, especially with the uncertain nature of climate change today. Humans have also introduced invasive animals like dogs, cats, and pigs to the islands, which often hunt and kill young iguanas. In addition, plastic pollution and oil spills hurt both the iguanas and the food they need to survive. All marine iguanas are protected by law, but because they only live in such a small and isolated area in the Galápagos, they are vulnerable to extinction.

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