FLORA

Galapagos is also known by its flora, there are approximately 220 species of plants, of which 119 have been introduced by man, migratory birds that arrive to the archipelago, the sea and the winds.

Lands close to the coast are inhabited by swamps, salicornias, myrtles and other aquatic plants. Thorny plants with small flowers, cacti, heaths, sacred sticks of strange aspect, locusts and lquenes manage to grow in the arid areas. In the transition area, perennial grasses and small bushes strive.

In the high and humid parts (that extend on the 200 and 500 m altitude lives the scalesia tree, which is generally covered by orchids. We can also find locusts, guayabos, pasiflorceas and mushrooms.

The arborescent fern of Galapagos, reaches up to 3 meters- grows in the highest area.

FAUNA

Galapagos is famous for the great quantity of giant turtles that only inhabit here and in the Indian sea. According to legend, these reptiles can live many years. It is said that in 1770 captain Cook gave a turtle to the queen of Tonga and that the animal survived up to 1966.

One of the most attractive species for researchers is the sea lion of Galapagos, a subspecies of California. There are also hairy marine bears that are like to live in colonies.

In Galapagos there can be counted up to 58 species of marine and terrestrial birds, 28 are endemic of the islands, while the remaining ones are migratory. The birds of the archipelago are not afraid of human beings, due to the absence of predators.

Winter (October to February), is the best time to study birds, because the islands are visited by the migratory species and, also, because it is the time of reproduction.
The terrestrial birds that inhabit the islands are the chaffinches of Darwin, the mockingbirds (known for their gray and brown lines), the terrestrial turtle doves and the 'ratonero busardo' of the Galapagos.

Among the marine birds that live in the Espaola Island, seabirds stand out. Some of their characteristics are the retinue parades, where the birds "dance" looking each other and make their picks collide as if they were practicing fencing. The blue booby is also attractive because its paws are of exquisite blue coloring. Their retinue ritual is also amusing, they move their paws and exchange with their couples some branches of the trees, as if they were gifts.

Other birds that inhabit Galapagos are: rabihorcados (the males have a bag of scarlet color that fills out while mating); fuliginous gull (sleeps in the banks of lagoons of salted water); "fly buster" vermilion (small bird that has a musical song of high tones and builds its nests in cup form).

One of the well known species in the Isabela and Fernandina Islands is the penguin of Galapagos. It walks slowly on land, but it is a speedy swimmer in the sea.

The cormoran mancn lives in the coast of the island. Currently, there are only 700 couples of this species that despite being unable to fly waves its wings all the time and is as excellent swimmer as the penguin.