Most travelers know that the strange creatures Charles Darwin observed in the Galapagos Islands in the early 19th century played a pivotal role in shaping his world-changing theory of evolution by natural selection. One of the most remarkable things about the Galapagos is that many of the species that inspired Darwin are still around today—living, crawling, soaring proof of his elegant idea: an organism that’s better adapted to its environment is more likely to survive, reproduce and pass along its traits.
Here are just a few astounding examples of Galapagos animals whose adaptations have stood the test of time.
Vampire Ground Finch
1. A Finch That Drinks Blood
There are 13 species of Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos, all descended from a common ancestor through a process known as adaptive radiation. Each evolved to exploit a different ecological niche, with variations in beak size and shape that suit specific diets—thick beaks for cracking seeds, long probing beaks for picking insects.
Among them, the vampire finch stands out for its macabre feeding behavior. A subspecies of the sharp-beaked ground finch, it uses its needle-like beak to peck at the skin of Nazca or blue-footed boobies until blood flows—then drinks it. Surprisingly, the boobies don’t resist. Scientists believe this odd relationship may have evolved from a formerly symbiotic one, where finches groomed boobies for parasites.
Galapagos Finch
2. A Finch That Makes and Uses Tools
If drinking blood wasn’t surprising enough, meet the woodpecker finch—a true innovator in the animal kingdom. When it encounters insects hiding in bark, this finch retrieves a cactus spine or twig to probe the crevices. Up to half its prey is caught this way, making it a more frequent tool user than a chimpanzee.
Even more impressively, the finch modifies its tools when necessary—removing leaves or shaping twigs—demonstrating not just tool use, but toolmaking. Some reports even describe them wielding twigs as weapons. A bird not to be underestimated.
Marine Iguana
3. A Reptile That Shrinks Itself
The Galapagos marine iguana is the only sea-going lizard in the world. It dives up to 40 feet to graze on algae and seaweed, propelled by a powerful, flattened tail. Its adaptations include blunt snouts for underwater foraging and special glands to excrete excess salt.
Its most astonishing ability, however, may be its capacity to shrink. During food shortages brought on by El Niño events, individuals can reduce their body length by up to 20% in just two years. This size reduction lowers energy demands and improves foraging efficiency, boosting survival odds. Once food becomes plentiful again, they grow back. This reversible shrinking is believed to be unique among all vertebrates.
Flightless Cormorant
4. A Cormorant That “Flies” Underwater
Endemic to only two Galapagos islands—Isabela and Fernandina—the flightless cormorant has traded wings for water. With a population of around 1,500, it’s among the rarest birds on Earth and an evolutionary marvel.
Unlike its airborne cousins, this cormorant has small wings, a dense body, and strong legs with webbed feet, all suited for diving. Scientists believe that because early cormorants in the Galapagos had no predators, flight became unnecessary—and metabolically costly. Birds that expended less energy flying were better suited to survive, and over time, a new species evolved that swims rather than soars.
Racer Snake
5. A Snake That Eats Fish
In 1995, biologist Godfrey Merlin made an unexpected discovery: a small land snake on Fernandina Island hunting fish in the intertidal zone. He watched the snakes venture into chilly shallows to capture four-eyed blennies—an extraordinary behavior not previously documented in Galapagos reptiles.
Each snake appears to claim a specific “fishing patch,” though individuals will occasionally feed together. In 2023, Merlin returned with a BBC film crew to document the behavior.
“This is adaptation in action,” Merlin says. “We’re watching lifeforms respond to unfilled ecological niches in a place free from human interference. These snakes are not what they were before. Change is happening—and who knows where it will lead.”
The Galapagos Islands remain one of the world’s most pristine natural laboratories. To walk among creatures that helped spark our understanding of evolution—and continue to evolve today—is nothing short of extraordinary. Want to see these adaptations firsthand?
Start planning your Galapagos adventure with Nat Hab and experience evolution as it unfolds.
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