It is the only iguana that has adapted to life in the marine environment. This species, found only in the Galapagos Islands, is an exception among modern lizards and is a marine reptile with the ability to forage in the sea. It feeds on algae, which make up almost all of its diet.
Although it is found in large numbers, the marine iguana is protected and considered vulnerable, mainly due to El Niño cycles (a weather and oceanic phenomenon involving the persistence of above-average temperatures at the water's surface), predation, and accidental events (such as oil spills).
