G a l a p a g o s A d a p tat i o n s

THE MARINE IGUANA

A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1043470)

GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

Thermoregulation and the Marine Iguana

A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1043470)

GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to control its body temperature, even when the surrounding temperature can be different.

What is thermoregulation? Any ideas?

A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1043470)

GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

Video

Q1 – Where do reptiles get their energy from?

A daily challenge… Marine iguanas feed on algae in the sea all year round. With chilly water

temperatures of about 15-16°C, how do they keep their bodies warm enough?Let’s watch the following video to find out more. Be ready for a short quiz after!

Q2 – What happens to the iguanas during the night?

Q4 – The iguanas bodies are black. How does this help?

Q3 – What do the iguanas need to warm themselves up for?

Q5 – What behavioural adaptations do they use to keep warm?

Q6 - What changes in colour do the thermal cameras show as the iguanas go from being very cold to warm?

Q7 – Once they are warm, what temperature do they keep their bodies at?

Q8 – Why can only the bigger iguanas dive?

Q9 – By how many degrees can their bodies cool down by in a dive?

Q10 – Explain to your partner what thermoregulation is…..

A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1043470)

GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

Investigate more about thermoregulation and other fascinating facts about the Marine Iguana in our magazine

A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1043470)

GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK