This is part of the Galapagos Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador in South America. There are 13 major islands and 7 smaller islands, and hardly anyone lives there. That’s because they’re so far away from the mainland and a lot of the land was built by lava from volcanoes. It’s almost entirely preserved as a national park.
Over 200 species of animals live there. Some of them can only be found in the Galapagos Islands. Here are a few of Harvey's favorites from his visit:
Galapagos Fur Seals
Size: 4 to 5 feet, 87 pounds
They Eat: Fish, squid, shellfish
Fun Fact: They spend equal time in and out of the water and can regulate their own body temperature.
Galapagos Sea Lion
Size: 59 to 98 inches, 110 to 880 pounds
They Eat: Fish, squid, octopus, crustaceans
Fun Fact: They're awkward on land but very skilled swimmers!
Galapagos Penguin
Size: 19 to 21 inches, 5.5 pounds
They Eat: Small fish
Fun Fact: These penguins don't need snow and ice. They can keep their bodies from over-heating in the warmer temperatures of the Galapgos by stretching out their flippers, avoiding the sun, panting, and swimming in cool water.
Swallow-Tailed Gull
Size: 20 to 22 inches, 22 to 28 ounces
They Eat: Fish, squid
Fun Fact: They are the only fully nocturnal (active at night) sea birds in the world.
Galapagos Tortoise
Size: 5 feet, 550 pounds
They Eat: Prickly pear cactus, fruits, flowers, grasses
Fun Fact: They can live over 150 years!
Galapagos Land Iguana
Size: 3 to 5 feet, 25 pounds
They Eat: Plants, shrubs, cactus
Fun Fact: They look like they're smiling.
Galapagos Batfish
Size: 16 inches
They Eat: Deep sea fish, crustaceans
Fun Fact: Also known as the red-lipped batfish (for obvious reasons), this fish is a terrible swimmer, but it can “walk” on the ocean floor using its pectoral fins.
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