Galápagos marine iguana

A Galápagos marine iguana.

Scientific name: Amblyrhynchus cristatus

Shrinking lizards:
Marine iguanas feed only on algae and seaweed. When food is scarce, these lizards shrink their bodies by up to seven centimetres (three inches) – around 20% of their regular length. This reduces the amount of food they need to survive. Like the magical Occamy, marine iguanas can expand as well as shrink, returning to their original length when more food becomes available.

Climate change is likely to cause more frequent shortages of the marine iguana’s main food,algae.The iguana’s ability to shrink is therefore likely to play a big part inits future survival.

Amazing ability: Shrinking its body to save energy

Where to find them: Scrambling over the rocky coasts of the Galápagos Islands