![]() ![]() Located on the north side, the head of the sea horse is a very important marine productive area, hit by the Cromwell Current, offers the most extraordinary marine life so it is considered one of the best diving spots of the archipelago. The evolution process that this specie went through can be observed on his behavior and environment on this location, providing evidence to understand Darwin’s theory of evolution. Punta Vicente Roca visitor site is the best place to find the famous flightless cormorant. Small human population in the south of the islands. This is one of the four populated islands about 2200 people live in Puerto Villamil. This town is the result of almost 300 years of interesting human interactions related to military plans and prison breakouts, and today is a welcoming site to explore and encounter the settlements that can tell the story. Named Albermale by the English colonizers, it offers not only diverse ecosystems but also some of the most amazing landscapes and natural sights of the archipelago. Home of Penguins, Flightless Cormorants, Marine and Land Iguanas and many Marine Birds, Isabela also portrays the picture of the evolving process that these species went through in all different locations of the same island. Each one of them is populated by a different specie of Tortoise that used to live in a separated island. It was formed into a big island mass by six volcanoes that in the beginning were six different islands, five of which are still active. Wolf Volcano had activity just last year giving visitors the chance to see how the islands grow and turn into what we know today. Isabela together with Fernandina are still located over the hot spot, causing volcanic activity until today, making them the youngest islands of the archipelago. The largest island of the archipelago and is easily recognized due to its shape that resembles a seahorse. Well known for having the second biggest active crater of the world in Sierra Negra Volcano (1.490 m), is located on the west of the archipelago and has one of the richest marine ecosystems. ![]() Racer males can be found in Galapagos on most of the major islands! Places where you may see this animal in Galapagos: ![]() Scientific Name (depending from the islands): Pseudalsophis biserialis, Pseudalsophis hoodensis, Pseudalsophis dorsalis, Pseudalsophis occidentalis, Pseudalsophis slevini, Pseudalsophis steindachneri.The native snake population has been decimated by introduced species such as cats, pigs and feral goats which forage for their eggs. They are diurnal, most active around dawn and dusk, and often rest around midday. The snakes are found throughout the year, but unlike many other Galapagos animals they are shy of humans and will hide away making them reasonably tough to spot without looking for them specifically. Racer snakes can be found in Galapagos on most of the major islands, though they are now locally extinct on Floreana. The racers on Fernandina were also the stars of BBC´s Planet Earth II where they were filmed hunting juvenile marine iguanas. This is a unique behaviour of terrestrial snake not observed anywhere else in the world. Godfrey Merlen was the first scientist to ever see this behaviour happening as he noted up to 15 individual snakes slithering around the lava rock pools around Cape Douglas. It is the Fernandina racer which has been observed hunting for marine fish from rock pools and the shallows around Fernandina. The latest research suggests that there are: the Galapagos racer ( Pseudalsophis biserialis) from San Cristobal and Floreana – though it is locally extinct on Floreana and now only found on nearby islets the Espanola racer ( Pseudalsophis hoodensis) from Espanola and adjacent islets Santa Cruz racer ( Pseudalsophis dorsalis) from Santa Cruz, Baltra, Santa Fe and adjacent islets Fernandina racer ( Pseudalsophis occidentalis) from Fernandina, Isabela, and Tortuga banded racer ( Pseudalsophis slevini) from Pinzon and the striped racer (, ) from Baltra and Santa Cruz. There is some confusion over the number of species of racer snake found in Galapagos due to poor research. Racers tend to be dark brown with stripes or spots. They are not at all aggressive towards humans and could not do much harm if they were to attack after being threatened. They are known to prey on lava lizards, geckos, insects, iguanas, mice, rats and hatchlings of several bird species. Racer snakes on Galapagos are constrictors and only mildly venomous. ![]()
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