Reptiles of the Galápagos Islands
by Todd Metcalfe
Computer engineering Major, College Park Scholars- Earth Life & Time
7/12/00
Reptiles are one of the groups that have successfully colonized the Galápagos Islands.
Reptiles are adapted to dryer environments, and as a result do not require as much water to
survive as either mammals or amphibians do.
Being able to survive with rather small amounts of water is the reason why reptiles were
able to reach the Galápagos, and subsequently colonize the islands. With the
colonization of the islands, populations on each island have evolved with some
differences. The species or groups of species that have reached the islands include: