Marine iguana
Depth: 8 m · Sunlight Zone
The marine iguana of the Galapagos Islands is the only lizard that dives in the sea. It grazes algae from the rocks underwater and can hold its breath for a long time. Later it simply sneezes out the excess salt.
For scientists
The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is the only sea-foraging lizard; it grazes algae from underwater rocks with blunt teeth. Special nasal glands excrete excess salt as a sneeze. In times of food shortage (El Nino) it can even temporarily shrink its body length as its bones shorten.
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