The animal in the photo (A) is a Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). Komodo dragons are the largest of all lizards, they can grow to lengths of 3m and can weigh as much as 165kg. Komodo dragons belong to the Family Varanidae, a group of reptiles known more commonly as the monitor lizards. Adult Komodo dragons are dull brown, dark grey, or reddish in color, while juveniles are green with yellow and black stripes.
Photo (B) shows a Galapagos land iguana (Conolophus subcristatus). Galapagos land iguanas are natives to the Galapagos Islands. They are vegetarian, feeding primarily on the prickly pear cactus. The Galapagos land iguana is dark brown to yellow-orange in color and has large pointed scales that run along its neck and down its back. The Galapagos land iguana is a large lizard but not the largest of all lizards, it grows to lengths of about 122 cm. Its head is blunt in shape and it has a long tail, substantical claws, and a heavy body.
Photo (C) shows a marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus). The marine iguanas are thought to be the ancestors of land iguanas that arrived to the Galapagos millions of years ago after floating from mainland South America on rafts of vegetation or debris. Some of the land iguanas that made their way to the Galapagos later gave rise to the marine iguana. Marine iguanas feed on marine algae and they must swim in the cold waters surrounding the Galapagos to forage. Because these iguanas rely on the environment to maintain their body temperature, they must bask in the sun to heat up before diving. Their dark gray-black color helps them absorb sunlight quickly and thus warm their bodies.
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