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<TD><B><FONT SIZE=5 color="#003300">Wildlife</FONT></B><BR> <BR> <FONT color="#003300"><i>"The natural history of these islands is eminently curious,
and well deserves attention... Considering the small size of these
islands, we feel the more astonished at the number of their aboriginal beings, and at their confined range...Hence, both in space and time, we seem to be brought somewhat near to
that great fact--that mystery of mysteries--the first
appearance of new beings on this earth."</I>
<P>
Charles Darwin,
<I><B>The Voyage of the Beagle</B></I></FONT>
<BR>
<BR>
"Eminently curious" well describes the natural history
of the Galápagos, from its sere landscapes to its comical birdlife.
For over 400 years this volcanic archipelago has both puzzled
and stunned its visitors, and no aspect of the islands is as stunning as its wildlife. The ease of approach to the birds, iguanas, tortoises and
other creatures of the Galápagos
is due to their isolation from natural predators,
a condition created by the very processes of <B><!-- Link Tag --><A HREF="evolution/evolution.html" tppabs="http://www.terraquest.com/galapagos/wildlife/evolution/evolution.html">Evolution</A></B> that first
stirred Charles Darwin to speculation in 1835.
<P>
Thanks to the
studies of Darwin and others, this "mystery of mysteries" is
mysterious
no longer. We have
divided this Wildlife section into three major areas -- <b> <!-- Link Tag --><A HREF="island/island.html" tppabs="http://www.terraquest.com/galapagos/wildlife/island/island.html">Island Life</A></b>,
the <b><!-- Link Tag --><A HREF="coastal/coastal.html" tppabs="http://www.terraquest.com/galapagos/wildlife/coastal/coastal.html">Coastal Zone</A></b>, and the <b><!-- Link Tag --><A HREF="marine/marine.html" tppabs="http://www.terraquest.com/galapagos/wildlife/marine/marine.html">Marine World</A></b>. In these sections we
can see how different
environments determine the adaptations that species make to assure their
survival. There's also a <!-- Link Tag --><A HREF="checklist.html" tppabs="http://www.terraquest.com/galapagos/wildlife/checklist.html"><B>checklist</B></A> of species to aid your virtual travels. Hopefully, you can gain a clear picture of some of the many colorful and intriguing life forms that populate the world's most celebrated equatorial islands, the Galápagos.</TD></TR></TABLE>
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