Field Guide to Wildlife of the Galápagos

Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and penguins at the Equator: few places on Earth offer such extraordinary wildlife so close to hand as the Galápagos. This book is a pocket-sized field guide to the animals of these ‘Enchanted Islands’, a volcanic archipelago that straddles the equator some 925 km off the coast of Ecuador. In just 72 pages, almost 1,000 original watercolour illustrations cover nearly 400 species: virtually every mammal, reptile and bird recorded on the islands, from whales and dolphins to rare vagrant seabirds, together with the fish and invertebrates that visitors are most likely to encounter on land, along the shore and in the water. Key species are shown in multiple illustrations, with useful and entertaining notes on their natural history and behaviour. An introduction to the islands’ geography, climate, vegetation zones and evolutionary story, illustrated with a map and landscape paintings, sets the scene for an unforgettable visit. Designed for quick and easy identification, the accessible approach will suit everyone – from families on the trip of a lifetime and first-time visitors to naturalist guides and researchers – while the content reflects current scientific understanding and taxonomy. Field Guide to Wildlife of the Galápagos is the essential companion for anyone visiting this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site.