How Well Do You Know the “Big 15” of Galapagos Wildlife?

Many have heard of the "Big Five" game animals of Africa, and some are also familiar with the "Denali Slam"—the thrill of spotting a canid (coyote, fox, or wolf), Dall sheep, caribou, grizzly, and moose in one of America's premier National Parks. But did you know the Galapagos Islands have their own special claim to fame known as the "Big 15?"

Join Orbridge on a small-group Galapagos voyage for a unique communion of wildlife, landscapes, and discovery. To fire your imagination and begin your "wish list" for a Galapagos wildlife safari, learn more with this sampling of the Islands' iconic animals in our quiz.

1. Flightless Cormorant

Flightless Cormorants are brown, aquatic birds with bright, turquoise eyes. This endemic species to Galapagos is not only the heaviest cormorant species, but also the one which cannot fly out of 29 species. Often seen carrying large clumps of seaweed which is used to build nests, they are found on which two islands?

A) Bartolomé and Marchena B) Isabela and Fernandina C) San Cristobal and Española D) Genovesa and Pinzon

2. Red-Footed Booby

The Galapagos Islands contain the world's largest colony of the smallest of all the booby species, the red-footed booby. This seabird, with its bright red feet and vivid blue beak, nests in the canopy of small trees or shrubs. As a result, it has longer toes to grasp branches. The red-footed booby has a different breeding habit as well, with a clutch size of how many eggs?

A) One B) Two C) Three D) Four

3. Galapagos Hawk

As the apex predator, the Galapagos hawk has no natural enemies, but is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). They are present on most islands, but uncommon, with perhaps how many breeding pairs?

A) 50 B) 100 C) 150 D) 225

4. Marine Iguana

Marine iguanas are the only oceangoing lizards in the world and are only found in the Galapagos. In the water, they swim with a snake-like motion and hold themselves against the bottom with their long claws in order to graze on algae. In times of reduced food availability, marine iguanas have the incredible ability to do what?

A) To shrink (in length and in overall size) B) To remain asleep (for weeks or months) C) To order food delivery (from Algae Eats) D) To hold on to all the salt they would normally expel

5. American Flamingo

Flamingos are some of the most beautiful and interesting birds in the world, and those found in the Galapagos Islands are no exception. Galapagos flamingos live in large colonies in brackish, shallow waters. They are believed to be monogamous and tend to stay with the same mate for a lifetime. Baby chicks receive milk for about two months after birth. Which parent produces the milk?

A) Female B) Male C) Both females and males D) Neither

6. Identify This Bird!

This member of the "Galapagos 15" is the largest bird in the Galapagos, with a wingspan of up to eight feet. They can only be seen on itineraries that explore Española Island in the southeast of the archipelago. Which bird is this?

A) Magnificent Frigatebird B) Nazca Booby C) Whimbrel D) Waved Albatross

7. Blue-Footed Booby

Visitors of Galapagos love blue-footed boobies. And who can blame them? Both the unreal-looking blue feet and the amusing mating dance of this bird are fascinating to see. While they are not endemic to the islands, about ___ percent of the world’s breeding pairs live here.

A) 15% B) 27% C) 50% D) 99%

8. Galapagos Sea Lion

The most common native mammal you will see during your Galapagos expedition is the Galapagos sea lion, a subspecies of the Californian sea lion. There are an estimated 50,000 individuals here. Snorkel with these playful creatures on an Orbridge adventure and hear the sound they make, which is similar to what?

A) a dog's bark B) a goat's bleat C) a chicken's cluck D) a donkey's bray

9. Galapagos Penguin

Also a favorite with many visitors to the Islands, the Galapagos penguin is the only penguin species found north of the equator and in the Galapagos. In addition to the cool, nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt Current, which flows north from Antarctica, these penguins have special adaptations and behaviors that help them deal with the tropical heat. Which of the following is such an adaptation?

A) They actively seek out shade. B) They pant. C) They hunch over on land to shade their feet. D) They do all of these.

10. Santa Fe Land Iguana

The Santa Fe land iguana (Conolophus pallidus), with smaller dorsal spines and a more brownish color and tapered snout, lives only on little Santa Fe, an island of 9.3 square miles. Perfectly adapted by its color to blend in with its surroundings, it weighs up to 25 pounds. They have a symbiotic relationship with the island's finches and mockingbirds, which eat ticks and other parasites from their scales. Some of these iguanas have been found eating insects and carrion, and which of the following plays a big role in their plant diet?

A) Cutleaf Daisy B) Prickly-Pear Cactus C) Tribulus D) Galapagos Rock Purslane

11. Galapagos Giant Tortoise

Next in the "15" are perhaps the most recognizable animals of the Galapagos Islands. Did you know? The top shell of a tortoise is called the carapace; the shell that covers a tortoise's belly is called the plastron. There are more than a dozen different species and subspecies of tortoises in the Galapagos, many of which specially adapted to a particular island. The populations of Galapagos tortoises that live on the hotter and drier islands of the Galapagos have developed which physical characteristics?

A) Domed carapace with taller profile, shorter neck and limbs, front of carapace not steeply angled, larger body size B) Saddle-shaped, flat carapace, long neck, larger distance between plastron and front of the carapace, which is angled upwards, smaller in overall size C) Flat, so-called "tabletop" shells, differing from both the domebacks and saddlebacks D) None of these

12. Name that seal!

As mentioned above, sea lions are abundant in the Galapagos. More elusive are the native seals found on rocky shores across the islands. Guests are most likely to see them around Isabela and Fernandina. This Galapagos seal belongs to a genus called Arctocephalus (or Arctophoca), meaning "bear-headed." Which species of seal is this?

A) Elephant Seal B) Harp Seal C) Leopard Seal D) Fur Seal

13. Galapagos Land Iguana

The two species of land iguanas—Galapagos and Santa Fe—look almost identical; they are yellowish in color and bigger than their marine relatives. Galapagos land iguana adults may weigh up to 175 pounds and may be 39 inches long, and are known to live for at least 60 years. Males are highly territorial, defending their territories against intruders how?

A) Engaging in head-butting battles B) Engaging in slinging of prickly pear cactus C) Engaging in choreographed fight scenes from West Side Story D) Engaging in playing dead

14. Nazca Booby

As we've seen, the Galapagos Islands are home to very interesting birds, including the red- and blue-footed boobies. In fact, three of the Earth’s six species of boobies can be found here. The three species are very similar, yet have very distinguishable differences. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the Nazca Booby?

A) At 3 feet long and with a 5- to 6-foot wingspan, the Nazca is larger than any other Galapagos booby. B) The male of the species is more likely to dive deeper for food and will eat larger fish than the female, as the male bird is larger than the female. C) In contrast to the other boobies, the Nazca breeds annually on a set cycle. D) The Nazca booby consistently lays two eggs, but only one will survive, because even in a year with ample food, the eldest sibling will expel the younger from the nest.

15. Last, but not least: two species of bird well known for its ability to steal food. Which are they?

Two of the world’s five species of this bird can be found in the Galapagos and round out our list—can you name it? Here are some clues: This black seabird has the largest wingspan to weight ratio of any bird in the world. Because of a tiny preening gland, they cannot secrete ample oil to make their feathers waterproof, so they are unable to dive underwater and snag prey. And demonstrating remarkable courtship display, males inflate the scarlet gular pouches that dangle below their necks to eye-catching heart-shaped balloons.

A) Lava Gulls: Bold and Beautiful B) Galapagos Petrels: Fast and Furious C) Frigatebirds: Great and Magnificent D) This isn't another booby, is it?

Is Your Intellect Keen of the "Galapagos 15?" Check the answers below to see.

Galapagos Quiz Answers: 1. B, 2. A, 3. C, 4. A, 5. C, 6. D, 7. C, 8. A, 9. D, 10. B, 11. B, 12. D, 13. A, 14. B, 15. C

Quiz Ratings:

9 and Below: Beginner— The wildlife of Galapagos is a curious crew, and so are you! Continue learning to foster a deeper understanding of these unique creatures and this unique place.

10-12: Intermediate— Your inquisitive nature has definitely expanded your knowledge base! Keep up the good work. The Galapagos makes for an amazing classroom.

13-15: Advanced— You have impressive knowledge of this precious biodiversity! Darwin would be proud. Enduring interest and appreciation contribute to protecting and preserving the archipelago.

Journey to the Galapagos Islands to encounter members of this "Big 15" of iconic wildlife and so much more! The Galapagos Islands have been recognized as a National Park, marine reserve, whale sanctuary, Man and Biosphere Reserve, and World Heritage Site. Click here for more details about traveling to this extraordinary destination with Orbridge, or give us a call at (866) 639-0079.