The omnivorous herds preceded Darwin's arrival and even today threaten to eat the native wildlife out of house and home.

Males stake out the high ground from which they can show off for prospective mates.

The graceful birds soar along island cliffs and between the monuments of Kicker Rock.

Peering out at the waves for the telltale signs of a whale is an anxious pursuit, but the sight of the leviathan is worth the wait.

The diminutive craters that dot the eastern end of the island are a reminder of its volcanic origins.

Shearwaters survey the open sea for schools of baitfish, sweeping so close their wingtips touch the water.

The enormous albatross lives only on Espanola Island, where it nests among the stony fields behind the cliffs.

Herds of Pencil Sea Urchins graze on the algae that clings to the rocks in the coastal shallows.

These pirates make their living plundering food from other birds as they return from feeding.

Birds, lizards and other wildlife in the Galapagos have adopted the basic color scheme of the islands - basaltic black and Palo Santo gray.