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Warming Up


Warming Up
Photo Information
Copyright: Selen Ediger (SelenE) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-26
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Hoya 77mm Super-HMC CPL MCPRO1
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Reptiles - Iguanas 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-18 2:34
Viewed: 1180
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Marine Iguana
Amblyrhynchus cristatus
Subspecies:A. c. mertensi
Endemic (found only in Galapagos)
Red List Status: Vulnerable

Marine Iguanas *warming up on the lava rocks in Santiago Island.

The Galapagos Marine Iguana is the world’s only sea-going lizard, and is found on all of the main islands. There are 7 races or subspecies which vary considerably in size and colour from island to island. The males are larger and more brightly colored than females. They are largely black or dark grey. However, the male take on a red or green tinge during the mating season. Some races look to have lichens growing on them, such are the variations in their skin color. Marine iguanas have a pronounced crest which is most prominent on the head but runs all the way down their back and tail.

*Because it is ectothermic, or cold-blooded, and yet feeds in the cool waters of the Humboldt and Cromwell currents, it must warm up by basking in the sun on the black lava rocks, but before and after feeding trips. To avoid overheating, which would occur if its body temperature exceeded 35c, it varies its position in relation to the sun, often facing directly into it to reduce its exposure.

The Marine Iguana lives largely on land but it feeds inshore and in the intertidal zone at depths of up to about 10 m. It feeds almost entirely on red and green algae but it is also known to consume its own faeces as well as those of sea lions and crabs. This diet results in a high intake of salt. To eliminate this excess of salt, they spit out brine through their nostrils. This snorting is the only noise that they make.

Subspecies and the Islands
A.c. cristatus -Fernandina
A. c. hassi - Santa Cruz
A. c. albemarlensis – Isabela (largest in size)
A.c. mertensi - Santiago

*FAST FACTS
Type: Reptile
Diet: Herbivore
Average lifespan in the wild: 5 to 12 years
Size: 4 to 5 ft (1.2 to 1.5 m)
Weight: 1 to 3.3 lbs (.5 to 1.5 kg)
Did you know?: Marine iguanas sneeze frequently to expel salt from glands near their nose. The salt often lands on their heads, giving them a distinctive white wig.
Protection status: Threatened
National Geographic

Sources:
*Wildlife of the Galapagos
Julian Fitter,Daniel Fitter,David Hosking
Princeton Pocketguides, ISBN 0-691-10295-3

*Galapagos: Ocean, Earth, Wind & Fire
Jonathan R. Green

Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Time: 1/125
F-Stop: f/7.1
ISO Speed Ratings: 200
Focal Length: 100 mm (full frame)
Date Taken: 2007-04-26 16:23
Metering Mode: Partial
Jamesp, egeerhan, ciccio, spalaxtr, Kathleen, Matt-Bird, Juyona, kjpweb, Maite, rousettus, dew77, lawhill, delic, uleko has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Jamesp: thanksSelenE 3 06-18 04:58
To spalaxtr: alttürSelenE 1 06-18 03:51
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Critiques [Translate]

Günaydın Selen,
Çok güzel bir poz yakalamışsın. Renkler, kompozisyon ve pozlama çok iyi, eline sağlık.

Hola Selen, casi publicamos foto al mismo tiempo. :-).
Vaya preciosidad. Una maravilla de la naturaleza. Eres muy afortunada por poder visitar lugares como este y mostrarnos fotografías tan bonitas. Un saludo.

José Luis

Selen merhaba,
Yine Galapagos'un eşsiz türlerinden birisi. Pırıl pırıl ve oldukça net bir foto. Bilgiler odukça bilgilendirici. Tebrikler. Küçük bir not: alttür ismi "hassi" küçük harf ile başlamalı. Bıranşım gereği belirtmeden geçemedim. Mustafa

Hi Selen

Another wonderful posting from your Galapagos trip. You have dealt with the exposure problems causes by the brilliant galapagos light very well, maintaining detail in the iguanas. I like the composition and POV very much.

How many islands did you visit?

James

Hi Selen.
What a fantastic image, very interesting and your notes to go with it. For the hard light you have got their colour and detail very well. Great behavior image.

Kathleen
New Zealand

Hi Selen,
Good shot and a great subject, I don't think we see Galapagos Marine Iguanas on this site often so I is a nice change to see a very isolated animal.
thanks for sharing
regards
Matt.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2264 W: 10 N: 2633] (15577)
  • [2007-06-18 7:46]

Hola Selen,
bella captura...
original y excelente trabajo,
buen pov,
saludos

Fantastic! Too bad that these guys camouflage so well - so they don't stand out too well against the ground. But detail and color as well as the entire scenario make more than up for that! Bravo!

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266] (5195)
  • [2007-06-18 9:49]

Hello Selen
These iguanas seem to have a curious and funny hat.
Good capture and excellent shot.
The note is complete and interesting. TFS.
Greetings
Matie

Hi Selen,
A different world, the Galapagos.
What a privilege to be able to photograph there...
TFS
Annick

merhaba Selen Hanım,
galapagos deyip de deniz iguanası olmadan olmaz sanırım. güzel bir poz yakalamışsınız. renkler, kompozisyon veya detaylar çok güzel. verdiğiniz bilgiler de her zamanki gibi detaylı ve güzel. eline sağlık, selamlar. Ahmet

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2007-06-18 11:34]

Merhaba Selen,
İlk bakışta iguanaları kayaların parçaları zannnettim.Detaylar,keskinlik ve açıklayıcı notun mükemmel.Tebrikler,ellerine sağlık!

Hi Selene
Cada vez que veo estas fotos me dan ganas de tomar un avión......
Buen grupo el que nos muestras de estas Iguanas que deben de estar autoregulando su temperatura corporal.
Un saludo

Hello Selen,
Great portrait showing this marine iguanas,
nice composition nice details and colors
TFS. best regards/Lawhill

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 449 W: 6 N: 310] (898)
  • [2007-06-19 18:13]

Merhaba Selen,
Excellent composition and pov presenting us the sunbathing iguanas. The effect of the polarizer on the color is striking. Nicely saturated...
Hosçakal,
Hakan

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2999 W: 162 N: 984] (2877)
  • [2007-06-21 10:55]

Hello Selen,
What a fantastic sight! Excellent capture of these very interesting Iguanas. Amazing how they match the colour of the rocks. Sharp details and a fine composition.
TFS and regards, Ulla

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