Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
A dragon on a Rock

I explored the Galapagos Islands on a tour in the winter of 2023. The mostly unpopulated islands were home to endemic birds, sealions, crabs, turtles, and iguanas, all who seemed unfazed by the people stopping to photograph them. Conolophus pallidus (the Santa Fe land iguana or Barrington land iguana) is endemic to Santa Fe Island. We saw a few of these on our visit and hike, but this fellow stood out to me – he looked like he really BELONGED on that rock. When I look closely at the photo, I understand why it seems that way to me – the rock he is laying on has a crack that looks like his “smile”, an indentation that looks like his eye, and another like his ear! Check it out!!! His soft yellow and grey colouring, though not exactly like the rock, harmoniously blends with both the rock and the dried trees in the background.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2023
Date Uploaded: 12.2024
Photo Location: Santa Fe, Galapagos, Ecuador
Camera: ILCE-7M3
Copyright: © Sandra Nelson