Page 39 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE Vol 3

A flightless cormorant, Fernandina Islandnamely crustaceans, molluscs, annelid worms, insects, algae, etc. The coloration of its plumage varies according to the amount of carotenoid pigment consumed in crustaceans and microorganisms. The Galapagos flamingo is listed by the IUCN as an endangered species due to its small population and the high risk of extinction due to population decline.The Galapagos penguin, 50 cm in length and only 35 tall when standing, is among the smallest penguins in theworld. It is endemic to the Galapagos and is also classified as endangered. It feeds mainly on small fish, including herring and mullet. I found the penguin in the photo on a rock off of Isabela Island.The last species of sea bird I’d like to introduce here is the flightless cormorant, also endemic to the Galapagos and one of the rarest birds in the world. It is 95 cm in length and weighs 3-4 kg. Because of its inability to fly, it is threatened by theintroduction of predators such as cats and dogs on the island of Isabela and is listed as a vulnerable species.In the second part of “Photograph- ing the Galapagos Wildlife” I’ll introduce the mammals and reptiles of the Galapagos – the sea lions, giant tortoises, sea turtles and the land and marine iguanas.Elite+ 37