Jul 26, 2009

Poor Little Iguanalings

Photo source: Tim Eastgate
This is a Galapagos land iguana, and I'm wondering if it is an albino. Lots of pale, pinkish scales there, and even the eyes look pink.

These reptiles vary in size from 3 to 5 feet in length, and can weigh upwards of 25 lbs, depending on which island you find them on.

On South Plaza island, where the populations of land and marine iguanas overlap, you even have cross breeding. This results in viable, though most-likely sterile, offspring. Poor little crossbred, sterile iguanalings, torn between land and sea. There's a tale to be told in there, maybe a children's book, maybe a coming of age Young Adult novella. Query your literary agent and see what they say.

4 comments:

niner said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous creature. I like Darwin and all, but he was WRONG when he called these babies ugly! Beautiful photo!

Neil said...

Probably a representative of the recently discovered "pink land iguana" Conolophus rosada.

April Lorier said...

Aw, I think this little pink creature is cute! And your photography skills ain't too bad, either. :-D

Unknown said...

I am fascinated by these creatures. They are among the oldest living species and we would do well to study their survival skills!!