Hood Island, also known as Española, is the southernmost island in the Galapagos chain. Its distinctive fauna sets it apart from the other islands in the archipelago. Darwin’s observations of deviations within a species or genus from island to island heavily influenced his theories of evolution and natural selection. The seven subspecies of Marine Iguana presumably evolved from the same ancestor as the inland land iguanas (Conolophus spp.), an example of adaptive radiation. Males of the Hood Island subspecies, A. c. venustissimus, develop the striking breeding colors depicted here.
|
keywords (defined): |
|
keywords (additional): |
reptiles, lizards, iguanas, Galapagos |
|---|
|
|
|
|
