Land iguanas number between 5,000 and 10,000 individuals and grouped into two species. C. subcristatus, seen here is the most widespread while C. pallidus is found only on Santa Fé Island. Young iguanas feed mostly on insects but as they mature the lizards turn vegetarian and feed primarily on the pads and fruit of the Opuntia cactus. Their numbers are greatly reduced since Darwin visited the islands – he reported he could scarcely find a place to pitch his tent due to iguana nests. Natural predators of hatchlings include the Galápagos hawk, herons, and owls, but introduced mammals – cats, dogs, and pigs – are responsible for the most serious predation on the land iguana.
Like the marine iguana, the land iguana ignores humans allowing one to approach within a short distance. This one, back in the brush, required a longer lens to isolate him photographically.