On a dark volcanic rock, warmed by the equatorial sun, an emblematic scene of the Galapagos Islands unfolds. An Amblyrhynchus cristatus, known as a marine iguana, rests peacefully, spreading its body out over the rough surface of the rock to absorb the heat. Its black and grayish skin, covered with rough scales, helps retain solar heat, vital to regulate its temperature after diving into the cold ocean waters to feed on algae. Its claws clinging firmly to the rock and its half-closed eyes convey a sense of tranquility and perfect adaptation to its environment.
A few centimeters away, several Grapsus grapsus, commonly called red crabs or rock runner crabs, move with agility. Their shiny shells display a palette of vibrant colors: intense reds, bright oranges and touches of blue and yellow. These crabs move quickly, dodging the waves that splash the rock and searching for algae and small organic remains to feed on. Their presence adds dynamism and colour to the scene, contrasting with the stillness and dark tones of the marine iguana.
The iguana, indifferent to the comings and goings of the crabs, occasionally exhales through its nostrils, expelling a fine mist of salt resulting from its marine diet. This behaviour is characteristic of the species and shows its incredible adaptation to a saline environment. The crabs, for their part, seem to ignore the imposing presence of the iguana, concentrating on their constant activity on the rocky surface.
Approximate measurements of the Iguana:
A few centimeters away, several Grapsus grapsus, commonly called red crabs or rock runner crabs, move with agility. Their shiny shells display a palette of vibrant colors: intense reds, bright oranges and touches of blue and yellow. These crabs move quickly, dodging the waves that splash the rock and searching for algae and small organic remains to feed on. Their presence adds dynamism and colour to the scene, contrasting with the stillness and dark tones of the marine iguana.
The iguana, indifferent to the comings and goings of the crabs, occasionally exhales through its nostrils, expelling a fine mist of salt resulting from its marine diet. This behaviour is characteristic of the species and shows its incredible adaptation to a saline environment. The crabs, for their part, seem to ignore the imposing presence of the iguana, concentrating on their constant activity on the rocky surface.
Approximate measurements of the Iguana:
- Complete 1:10 scale
- Length 68 mm
- Height 29 mm
- Width 46 mm
- Snout-tail length 100 mm
