Furthermore, an old proverb states that if you have not drawn something, you have not seen it; indeed, drawing a thing forces the draftsman to pay minute attention to its details. We could not possibly achieve this effect by "drawing" the Galápagos biota. By setting ourselves the task of developing a life list, however, we approximated what that would have been like because our attention to details of the minute variations between species and our motivation to search for them were aroused by the task. Indeed, it was the observation this variation from island to island within the Archipelago that led Charles Darwin to his discovery of evolution by Natural Selection.

We would have, doubtless, seen a great diversity of creatures in any event. The development of the life list, however, enhanced our awareness and appreciation of what we saw in a way that would not have been possible had our attention been less focused.

Our comprehensive list representing both our 2002 and 2000 tour follows. Where possible, we attempted to photograph our sightings. You can link to them from the list. Enjoy.

Contents:

Chondrichthians (sharks and rays)

Actinopterygians (bony fish)

Mammals

Turtles

Squamates

Birds

Invertebrates

Plants

Chondrichthians (sharks and rays):
White-tipped reef shark Golden cow-ray Spotted eagle ray Manta ray Black-tipped reef shark Diamond stingray Scalloped hammerhead shark	Triaenodon obesus Rhinoptera steindachneri Aetobatus narinari Manta hamiltoni Carcharhinus limbatus Dasyatis brevis Sphyrna lewini	2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002

Actinopterygians (bony fish):

Acanthuridae (surgeonfish):
Yellow-tailed surgeonfish	Prionurus laticlavius	2000	2002

Apogonidae (cardinalfish):
Blacktip cardinalfish Pink cardinalfish	Apogon pacifici Apogon atradorsatus	2000	2002

Aulostomidae (trumpetfish):
Reef cornetfish Trumpetfish	Fistularia commersonii Aulostomus chinensis	2000 2000	2002 2002

Balistidae (triggerfish):
Finescale triggerfish Yellow-bellied triggerfish	Balistes polylepis Sufflamen verres	2000 2000	2002

Blennidae (blennies):
Large-banded blenny	Ophioblennius steindachneri	2000	2002

Bothidae (lefteye flounder):
Leopard flounder	Bothus leopardinus	2000

Carangidae (jack):
Yellowtail scad Bigeye scad	Decapterus sanctaehelenae Selar crumenophthalmus		2002 2002

Chaetodontidae (butterflyfish):
Three-banded butterflyfish	Chaetodon humeralis	2000

Cirrhitidae (hawkfish):
Hieroglyphic hawkfish	Cirrhitus rivulatus		2002

Diodontidae (Porcupinefish):
Spotted porcupinefish	Diodon hystrix		2002

Haemulidae (grunts):
Black-striped salema	Xenocys jessiae	2000	2002

Hemirhampoidae (halfbeaks):
Halfbeak	Hyporhamphus unifasciatus	2000

Kyphosidae (chubs):
Striped chub Dusky chub	Kyphosus analogous Girella freminvillei	2000 2000

Labridae (wrasses):
Chameleon wrasse Rainbow wrasse Spinster wrasse Streamer hogfish	Halichoeres dispilus Thalassoma lucasanum Halichoeres nicholsi Bodianus diplotaenia	2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002

Labrisomidae (blennies):
Belted blenny Chameleon clinid	Malacoctenus zonogaster Malacoctensu tetranemus	2000 2000	2002

Lutjanidae (snappers):
Blue-striped snapper Dog Snapper	Lutjanus viridis Lutjanus novemfasciatus	2000	2002

Monacanthidae (filefish):
Scrawled filefish	Alutera scripta	2000

Mugilidae (mullets):
Yellow mullet	Mugil rammelsbergi	2000	2002

Muraenidae (morays):
Jewelled moray	Muraena lentiginosa		2002

Ogcocephalidae (batfish):
Red-lipped batfish	Ogcocephalus darwini	2000

Ostraciidae (boxfish):
Pacific boxfish	Ostracion meleagris		2002

Pomacantidae (angelfish):
King angelfish	Holacanthus passer	2000	2002

Pomacentridae (damselfish):
Brown chromis Bumphead damselfish Giant damselfish Panamic Sergeant Major White-tail damselfish Yellow-tailed damselfish	Chromis atrilobata Microspathodon bairdii Microspathodon dorsalis Abudefduf troschelii Stegastes leucorus beebei Stegastes arcifrons	2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002 2002

Pomadasyidae (grunts):
Galápagos grunt	Orthopristis forbesi	2000

Scarridae (parrotfish):
Bicolor parrotfish Blue-chinned parrotfish Bumphead parrotfish	Scarus rubroviolaceus Scarus ghoban Scarus perrico	2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002

Scombridae (mackerel and tuna):
Wahoo	Acanthocybium solandri		2002

Scorpaenidae (scorpionfish):
Stone scorpionfish	Scorpaena plumeri mystes	2000	2002

Serranidae (sea bass):
Barred serrano Panamic graysby Flag Cabrilla Creol fish	Serranus fasciatus Epinephelus panamenis Paranthias colonus Epinephelus labrifrons	2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002

Sparidae (porgies):
Blackspot porgy	Archosargus pourtalesii	2000

Sphyraenidae (barracudas):
Barracuda	Sphyraena idiastes	2000

Tetraodontidae (smooth puffers):
Bullseye puffer Guineafowl puffer	Sphoeroides annulatus Arothron meleagris	2000 2000	2002

Tripterygiidae (blennies):
Galápagos triplefin blenny	Lepidonectes corallicola		2002

Zanclidae (moorish idols):
Moorish idol	Zanclus cornutus	2000

Turtles:
Green sea turtle Galápagos tortoise	Chelonia mydas agassizi Geochelone elephantopus	2000 2000	2002

Squamates:
Lava lizard - Española Lava lizard - Santa Cruz, Floreana, Bartholomé, Santiago, Fernandina, Isabela Lava lizard - San Cristóbal Marine iguana Land Iguana	Microlophus delanonis Microlophus albamarlensis Microlophus bivittatus Amblyrhynchus cristatus Conolophus subcristatus	2000 2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002 2002

Birds:

Anseriformes:
White-cheeked pintail	Anas bahamensis galapagensis	2000

Charadriiformes:
Swallow-tailed gull Lava gull American oystercatcher Noddy tern Black-necked stilt Ruddy turnstone Semipalmated plover	Larus furcatus Larus fuliginosus Haematopus palliatus galapagensis Anous stolidus galapengis Himantopus mexicanus Arenaria interpres Calidris pusilla	2000 2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002

Ciconiiformes:
Yellow-crowned night heron Lava heron Striated heron Great blue heron Cattle egret	Nyctanassa violacea pauper Butorides sundevali Butorides striatus Ardea herodias Bubulcus ibis	2000 2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002 2002

Columbiformes:
Galápagos dove Rock dove (aka "pigeon" feral)	Zenaida galapagoensis Columba livia	2000 2000	2002

Cuculiformes:
Smooth-billed ani	Crotophaga ani	2000	2002

Falconiformes:
Galápagos hawk	Buteo galapagoensis	2000	2002

Galliformes:
Chicken (domestic)	Gallus gallus	2000	2002

Gruiformes:
Common gallinule (aka moorhen)	Gallinula chloropus	2000

Passeriformes:

Fringillidae:
Common cactus finch Large cactus finch Warbler finch Medium ground finch Large ground finch Small ground finch Sharp-beaked ground finch Medium Tree finch Small tree finch	Geospiza scandens Geospiza conirostris Certhida olivacea Geospiza fortis Geospiza magnirostris Geospiza fuliginosa Geospiza difficilis Camarhynchus pauper Camarhynchus parvulus	2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002

Mimidae:
Chatham mockingbird Galápagos mockingbird Hood mockingbird	Nesomimus melanotis Nesomimus parvulus Nesomimus macdonaldi	2000 2000 2000	2002 2002

Parulidae:
Yellow warbler	Dendroica petechia aureolla	2000	2002

Tyrannidae:
Galápagos flycatcher	Myiarchus magnirostris	2000	2002

Pelecaniformes:
Brown pelican Blue-footed booby Masked booby Red-footed booby Great frigatebird Magnificent frigatebird Red-billed tropicbird Flightless cormorant	Pelecanus occidentalis urinator Sula nebouxii excisa Sula dactylatra granti Sula sula Fregata minor ridgwayi Fregata magnificens magnificens Phaethon aethereus Nannopterum harrisi	2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002

Phoenicopteriformes:
Greater flamingo	Phoenicopterus ruber	2000

Procellariiformes:
Waved albatross Audubon's shearwater Madeiran storm petrel Wedge-rumped storm petrel	Diomeda irrorata Puffinus iherminieri subalaris Oceanodroma castro Oceanodroma tethys tethys	2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002

Sphenisciformes:
Galápagos penguin	Spheniscus mendiculus	2000	2002

Strigiformes:
Galápagos short-eared owl	Asio flammeus galapagoensis	2000

Annelida:
Fireworm	Choeia viridis	2000

Arthropoda:

Arachnida:
Argiope Star spider Spider indet. Spider indet.	Argiope argentata Gasteracantha servillei ?? ??	2000 2000	2002 2002 2002

Crustacea:
Sally lightfoot crab Terrestrial hermit crab Orange-tipped hermit crab Giant hermit crab Ghost crab Heller fiddler crab Giant barnacle	Grapsus grapsus Coenobita compressus Calcinus explorator Petrochirus californiensis Ocypode gaudichaudii Uca helleri Megabalanus peninsularis	2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002

Insecta:
Painted locust Polistes Hymenoptera indet. Carpenter bee Galápagos silver fritillary Galápagos sulphur Large-tailed skipper Galápagos blue Queen butterfly Footman moth Lepidoptera indet. Lepidoptera indet. Lepidoptera indet. Odonata indet. Cottony cushion scale	Schistocera melanocera Polistes versicolor ?? Xylocopa darwini Agraulis vanillae galapagensis Phoebis sennae marcellina Urbanus dorantes Leptodes parrhasioides Danaus gilippus Utethesia sp. ?? ?? ?? ?? Icerya purchasi	2000 2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002

Myriapoda:
Galápagos centipede	Scolopendra galapagensis		2002

Cnidaria:
Orange cup coral Hydrozoa indet.	Tubastrea coccinea ??	2000 2000	2002 2002

Echinodermata:
Blue sea star Bradley's sea star Panamic cushion sea star Sandstar Chocolate chip sea star Black spiny brittle star Green sea urchin Hatpin sea urchin Purple sea urchin Slate-pencil sea urchin White sea urchin Galápagos sand dollar Pepiño Sea cucumber Sea cucumber	Phataria unifascialis Mithrodia bradleyi Pentaceraster cumingi Luidia foliolata Nidorellia armata Ophiocoma aethiops Lytechinus semituberculatus Diadema mexicanum Echinometra vanbrunti Eucidaris thouarsii Tripneustes depressus Encope galapagensis Stichopus fuscus Holothuria atra Holothuria kefersteini	2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002

Mollusca:
Chief rocksnail Galápagos periwinkle Rough-ribbed nerite Wrinkled penshell	Hexiplex princeps Nodilittorina galapagiensis Nerita scabicosta Pinna rugosa	2000	2002 2002 2002

Lycopsida (clubmosses):
Lycopod	Lycopodium cernuum		2002

Pteropsida (ferns):
Galápagos tree fern Mother-in-law tongue Pteropsida indet. Pteropsida indet.	Cyathea weatherbyana ?? ?? ??		2002 2002 2002 2002

Angiospermae (flowering plants):

Acanthaceae (acanthus):
Galápagos justicia	Justicia galapagana		2002

Agavaceae (agaves):
Agave	Furcraea hexapetala	2000

Aizoeceae (carpetweed):
Galápagos carpetweed	Sesuvium portulacastrum	2000	2002

Aizoeceae (carpetweed):
Galápagos carpetweed Trianthema	Sesuvium portulacastrum Trianthema portulacastrum	2000	2002 2002

Amaranthaceae (amaranth):
Thread-leaf chaff flower	Alternantheria filifolia		2002

Asteraceae (sunflower):
Ageratum Winged-fruit lecocarpus Radiate-headed scalesia Heller's scalesia Tree scalesia Stewart's scalesia Longhaired scalesia	Alternantheria filifolia Lecocarpus pinnatifidus Scalesia affinis Scalesia helleri Scalesia pedunculata Scalesia stewartii Scalesia villosa	2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002

Avicenniaceae (black mangrove):
Black mangrove	Avicennia germinans		2002

Bataceae (batis):
Salt Wort	Batis maritima	2000

Boraginaceae (borage):
Muyuyo Heliotrope Seaside heliotrope Gray Matplant	Cordia lutea Heliotropium angiospermum Heliotropium curassavicum Tiquilia nesiotica	2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002

Bromiliaceae (bromiliads):
Galápagos tillandsia	Tillandsia insularis		2002

Burseraceae (torchwood):
Palo Santo Palo Santo	Burseria graveolens Burseria malacophylla	2000	2002 2002

Cactaceae (cactuses):
Lava Cactus Candelabra Cactus Prickly pear Prickly pear Prickly pear Prickly pear Prickly pear Prickly pear Prickly pear	Brachycereus var. nesioticus Jasminocereus var. thouarsii Opuntia echios var. echios Opuntia echios var. gigantea Opuntia echios var. zacana Opuntia galapageia var. profusa Opuntia helleri Opuntia insularis Opuntia megasperma	2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002

Caesalpiniaceae (caesalpinia):
Palo Verde	Parkinsonia aculeata		2002

Celastraceae (staff-tree):
Leather Bush	Maytenus octogona	2000	2002

Combretaceae (combretum):
Button mangrove White mangrove	Conocarpus erecta Laguncularia racemosa	2000 2000	2002 2002

Convolvulaceae (morning-glory):
Pink morning-glory Lava Morning Glory Beach Morning-glory Hairy merremia	Ipomoea triloba Ipomoea habeliana Ipomoea pes-caprae Merremia aegyptica	2000 2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002

Cucurbitaceae (gourds):
Tiger's egg Bitter melon	Cucumis dipsaceus Mormodica charantia	2000 2000	2002 2002

Cyperaceae (sedge):
Sedge	Cyperus anderssonii	2000	2002

Euphorbiaceae (euphorbias):
Spurge Galápagos croton Manzanillo	Chamaesyce amplexicaulis Croton scouleri Hippomane mancinella	2000 2000 2000	2002 2002 2002

Fabaceae (peas):
Rattlebox Hoary pea Cow pea	Crotalaria retusa Tephrosia decumbens Vigna luteola	2000	2002 2002

Goodeniaceae (goodenias):
Inkberry	Scaevola plumieri	2000	2002

Loasaceae (stickleaf):
Stickleaf	Mentzelia aspera		2002

Malvaceae (mallows):
Bastardia Galápagos cotton Sida	Bastardia viscosa Gossypium barbadense Sida rhombifolia	2000	2002 2002 2002

Mimosaceae (mimosas):
Slender mimosa Thorn tree	Desmanthus virgatus Acacia macracantha	2000	2002

Musaceae (bananas):
Banana	Musa x paradisiaca	2000

Nyctaginaceae (four-o-clock):
Saltbush	Cryptocarpus pyriformis	2000	2002

Passifloraceae (passion flowers):
Colinvaux's passion flower Passion Flower	Passiflora colinvauxii Passiflora foetida	2000 2000	2002

Plumbaginaceae (plumbagos):
White leadwort	Plumbago scandens		2002

Poaceae (grasses):
Elephant Grass	Pennisetum purpureum		2002

Portulacaceae (purslane):
Galápagos purslane Common purslane	Portulaca howellii Portulaca oleracea	2000	2002 2002

Rhamnaceae (buckthorn):
Thorn shrub	Scutia spicata	2000	2002

Rhizophoraceae (mangroves):
Red mangrove	Rhizophora mangle	2000	2002

Rubiaceae (madder):
Milkberry Quinine tree White wild coffee	Chiococca alba Cinchona succiruba Psychotria rufipes		2002 2002 2002

Simaroubaceae (simarouba):
Castela	Castela galapageia	2000

Solanacea (potatoes):
Galápagos ground cherry Ground Cherry Bird pepper Galápagos shore petunia Galapagos tomato	Physalis galapagoensis Physalis pubescens Capsicum frutescens Exedeconus miersii Lycopersicon cheesmanii	2000 2000	2002 2002 2002

Sterculiaceae (sterculia):
Waltheria	Waltheria ovata	2000	2002

Verbenaceae (vervain):
Glorybower Galápagos lantana	Clerodendrum molle Lantana peduncularis	2000	2002 2002

Zygophyllaceae (caltrop):
Puncture weed	Tribulus cistoides	2000	2002