[Animals] This is the pink iguana, the endemic lizard of the Galapagos Islands that is in danger of extinction

[-Artisan ツ]

Native to Wolf Volcano, the Galápagos pink iguana is critically endangered due to eruptions and species introduced into its habitat.
The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago known for its biological diversity. In them, the British naturalist, Charles Darwin, made observations that helped him establish his theory of evolution. Similarly, another aspect that puts the mentioned area on the map is the number of endemic species. An example of the above is the pink iguana, which appears as one of the animals typical of the region that has attracted the most attention from scientists.

The species was first documented in 1986, during an expedition to Wolf Volcano, made by three park rangers from the Galapagos National Park. However, on that occasion there was no opportunity to specify a description of the animal. Despite this, Cruz Márquez, a member of the excursion, did not miss the event, as he returned to look for the pink iguana.

To identify and study the species, in the year 2000, Cruz Márquez sought the support of Gabriele Gentile, an Italian researcher who was beginning a project aimed at learning about the genetic diversity of Galapagos iguanas. After several studies during the first decade of the 21st century, Márquez and Gentile managed to come up with a description of the reptile, which was classified as a new species in 2009.

The animal that "hid" from Darwin
The scientific name for the pink iguana is Conolophus marthae. So far, this animal has only been seen on Wolf Volcano, the highest peak on Isabela Island. The reptile belongs to the Iguanidae family and to the Conolophus genus, which is made up of three species (all native to the Galapagos).

It may interest you: They discover a mysterious underground channel that connects the Galapagos with Panama

When the pink iguana is born, it is green. Over time, it begins to acquire its distinctive color. Morphologically, it is very similar to the Galapagos land iguana. Both are clear examples of the anatomical composition of lizards. Despite this, the biggest difference between these species is the coloration and structure of the crest.

According to the Galapagos Conservation Trust, the pink iguana has a short head and strong hind legs with sharp claws. It is a mainly herbivorous animal, since most of its diet is based on leaves and various fruits. The same source specifies that the pink color is due to a lack of pigment, which causes blood to show through the skin.

Pink iguana threats
According to the classification carried out by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the pink iguana is in critical danger of extinction. The threats that have led the species to this position are several. On the one hand, there are the predators, who are usually rats, introduced fauna (mainly cats) and hawks. In addition, volcanic eruptions and competition with the land iguana put the survival of this reptile at risk.

It may interest you: A giant turtle navigated the ocean 80 million years ago, according to newly discovered fossils

Fortunately, the Galapagos Initiative, a movement that unites the efforts of the Galapagos National Park Directorate (DPNG) and the Galapagos Conservancy, is working on strategies to save the pink iguana. One of the most recent events, in this context, was the discovery of several calves at the end of 2022. This implies a positive factor, considering that young specimens had not been seen in years.

https://www.ngenespanol.com/animales/iguana-rosada-como-es-uno-de-los-lagartos-endemicos-de-galapagos/