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DOI10.47051/CAND9772 Published October 10, 2019. Updated December 16, 2023. Open access. Peer-reviewed.

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Galápagos Land-Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus)

Reptiles of Ecuador | Sauria | Iguanidae | Conolophus subcristatus

English common name: Galápagos Land-Iguana.

Spanish common name: Iguana terrestre de Galápagos.

Recognition: ♂♂ 107 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=60 cm. ♀♀ 91.8 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=50 cm..^1,2 Conolophus subcristatus is one of four species of iguanas in the Galápagos Islands. It is generally the only land-dwelling iguana wherever it occurs. On Wolf Volcano on northern Isabela Island, it coexists with the distinctively colored Pink Iguana (C. marthae), from which it differs by having a yellowish coloration and no black bands (Fig. 1). In coastal areas of some islands, the territory of the Galápagos Land-Iguana approaches the habitat of the Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), a reptile that has a blunt snout, a laterally flattened tail adapted to swimming, and a distinct, usually blackish, background color.¹

Figure 1: Individuals of Conolophus subcristatus from Galápagos, Ecuador: Plaza Sur Island (); Seymour Norte Island ().

Natural history: Conolophus subcristatus is a diurnal iguana that inhabits dry shrublands, dry grasslands, deciduous forests, and volcanic rock areas if there is vegetation nearby.¹ Galápagos Land-Iguanas are terrestrial to semi-arboreal and feed mostly on, and obtain water from,¹ cacti, grasses, and the leaves of trees. Their diet also includes berries, seeds, crabs, crickets, grasshoppers, carrion, and shed skin.⁴ These reptiles are most active between 8:00–10:00 am and 3:00–6:00 pm.⁴ When not active, they retreat into burrows, under thick vegetation, or in crevices in the lava rocks.⁵ Galápagos Land-Iguanas, especially juveniles, are preyed upon by introduced predators such as pigs, dogs, cats, and rats, as well as by native predators such as hawks and snakes (Pseudalsophis dorsalis and P. occidentalis).^1,2 When threatened, these fast and wary reptiles run into burrows, vegetation, and crevices. They may also open their mouths aggressively if cornered. Adult females compete fiercely over nesting sites and are capable of traveling for up to 40 km to arrive at suitable nesting grounds.⁶ They dig holes in sandy soil⁴ and lay 8–22 eggs⁶ that take nearly four months to hatch.⁷ Adult males defend their territories by bobbing their heads or fighting with intruders.⁶ The Galápagos Land-Iguana is known to hybridize with the Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) on Plaza Sur Island.⁸ Members of C. subcristatus are estimated to live up to 70 years.⁷

Conservation: Vulnerable Considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the mid-term future..⁹ Conolophus subcristatus is listed in this category given that the entire population is estimated to be composed of less than 10,000 mature individuals,² many subpopulations are either extinct (Santiago and Rábida islands)⁷ or nearly extinct (most of Santa Cruz and southern Isabela Island),² and the species faces the threat of invasive predators.⁷

Distribution: Conolophus subcristatus is endemic to an area of approximately 5,401 km² in Galápagos, Ecuador (Fig. 2). Galápagos Land-Iguanas occur on Baltra, Isabela, Fernandina, Seymour Norte, Plaza Sur, and Santa Cruz islands (Fig. 3). The species has been re-introduced to Santiago Island and extirpated from Rábida Island.

Figure 2: Distribution of Conolophus subcristatus in Galápagos. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.

Figure 3: Distribution of Conolophus subcristatus in Santa Cruz Island. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.

Etymology: The generic name Conolophus comes from the Greek words konos (=cone) and lophos (=crest),¹⁰ and refers to the cone-like scales that compose the dorsal crest in species of this genus. The specific epithet subcristatus comes from the Latin words sub (=less than), crista (=ridge), and the suffix -atus (=provided with).¹⁰ It refers to the comparatively small dorsal crest of this species.¹

See it in the wild: The easiest places to see Galápagos Land-Iguanas are Plaza Sur and Seymour Norte islands. At these tourism sites, individuals of Conolophus subcristatus can be seen year-round with almost complete certainty.

Authors: Alejandro Arteaga^aAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador. and Juan M Guayasamin^bAffiliation: Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador.

Academic reviewer: Miguel Vences^cAffiliation: Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.

Photographers: Alejandro Arteaga^aAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador. and Jose Vieira^dAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.^,eAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.

How to cite? Arteaga A, Guayasamin JM (2023) Galápagos Land-Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/CAND9772

Literature cited:

1. Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J, Tapia W, Guayasamin JM (2019) Reptiles of the Galápagos: Life on the Enchanted Islands. Tropical Herping, Quito, 208 pp.
2. Márquez CM, Muñoz EA, Gentile G, Tapia WH, Zabala FJ, Naranjo SA, Llerena AJ (2010) Estado poblacional de las iguanas terrestres (Conolophus subcristatus, C. pallidus, y C. marthae: Squamata, Iguanidae), Islas Galápagos. Boletín Técnico, Serie Zoológica 6: 25–43.
3. Darwin CR (1845) Journal of researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle round the world, under the command of Capt. Fitz-Roy, R.N. John Murray, London, 519 pp.
4. Carpenter CC (1969) Behavioral and ecological notes on the Galápagos land iguanas. Herpetologica 25: 155–164.
5. Van Denburgh J, Slevin JR (1913) Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences to the Galápagos Islands, 1905-1906. IX. The Galapagoan lizards of the genus Tropidurus with notes on iguanas of the genera Conolophus and Amblyrhynchus. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 2: 132–202.
6. Werner DI (1983) Reproduction in the iguana Conolophus subcristatus on Fernandina Island, Galápagos: clutch size and migration costs. The American Naturalist 121: 757–775.
7. Snell HL, Snell HM, Tracy CR (1984) Variation among populations of Galápagos land iguanas (Conolophus): contrasts of phylogeny and ecology. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 21: 185–207. DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb02061.x
8. Rassmann K, Trillmich F, Tautz D (1997) Hybridization between the Galápagos land and marine iguana (Conolophus subcristatus and Amblyrhynchus cristatus) on Plaza Sur. Journal of Zoology 242: 729–739. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1997.tb05822.x
9. Kumar K, Gentile G, Grant TD (2020) Conolophus subcristatus. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T5240A3014082.en
10. Brown RW (1956) Composition of scientific words. Smithsonian Books, Washington, 882 pp.

Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Conolophus subcristatus in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.

Country	Province	Locality	Source
Ecuador	Galápagos	Bahía Elizabeth	Gentile et al 2009
Ecuador	Galápagos	Baltra	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Baltra airport	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Banks Bay	Van Denburgh 1913
Ecuador	Galápagos	Cabo Douglas	Traveset et al 2016
Ecuador	Galápagos	Cape Berkeley	CAS 11490; VertNet
Ecuador	Galápagos	Cartago Bay	Werner 1983
Ecuador	Galápagos	Cazuela	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	Cerro Colorado	Snell et al 1984
Ecuador	Galápagos	Cerro Dragón	Constantini et al 2009
Ecuador	Galápagos	Cerro Grande	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	Cerro Montura	Constantini et al 2009
Ecuador	Galápagos	Cerro Paloma	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	Conway Bay	MVZ 67726; VertNet
Ecuador	Galápagos	Cráter Beagle	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	Crater of La Cumbre	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Crater of Wolf Volcano	Gentile et al 2016
Ecuador	Galápagos	Cueva Norte	Gentile et al 2009
Ecuador	Galápagos	E Slope of Sierra Negra	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	E Tortuga Bay	Snell et al 1984
Ecuador	Galápagos	El Garrapatero	Van Denburgh 1913
Ecuador	Galápagos	Ensenada Buccaneer (reintroducida)	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Estación Charles Darwin	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Inland from Bahía Urbina	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	Inland from Cueva Norte	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	Itabaca–Baltra airport 1	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Itabaca–Baltra airport 2	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	James Bay	Darwin 1839
Ecuador	Galápagos	La Cumbre volcano	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	N Slope of Cerro Azul Volcano A	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	N Slope of Cerro Azul Volcano B	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	N Slope of Sierra Negra	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	NW rim of Wolf Volcano	Giambattista & Gentile 2018
Ecuador	Galápagos	Piedras Blancas	Gentile et al 2009
Ecuador	Galápagos	Plaza Sur	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Puerto Bravo	Gentile et al 2009
Ecuador	Galápagos	Puerto Nuevo (reintroducida)	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Puerto Villamil	Gentile et al 2009
Ecuador	Galápagos	Punta Espinosa	OMNH 40552.0; VertNet
Ecuador	Galápagos	Punta Espinosa, 3 miles N of	LACM 19386; VertNet
Ecuador	Galápagos	Punta García	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	Rábida	Giambattista & Gentile 2018
Ecuador	Galápagos	Roca Limba	Gentile et al 2009
Ecuador	Galápagos	SE Alcedo Volcano	Snell et al 1984
Ecuador	Galápagos	SE Darwin Volcano	Snell et al 1984
Ecuador	Galápagos	Seymour Norte	CM 17076; VertNet
Ecuador	Galápagos	SW Cape Berkeley	Fritts and Fritts 1982
Ecuador	Galápagos	Tagus cove	CAS 11274; VertNet
Ecuador	Galápagos	Urbina	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Venecia	Gentile et al 2009
Ecuador	Galápagos	Volcán Chico	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	W Slope of Darwin Volcano	Márquez et al 2010
Ecuador	Galápagos	Wolf Volcano Camp 2	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Wolf Volcano Camp 3	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Wolf Volcano Camp 4	Arteaga et al. 2019

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