Red-eyed Reef Crab (Eriphia smithii)

Red-eyed Reef Crab (Eriphia smithii)

The marine life around Socotra is rich and diverse, but I am focusing on the flora and fauna on land. However, I had a short window of opportunity during low…


Violet Zoanthids (Zoanthus sansibaricus)

Violet Zoanthids (Zoanthus sansibaricus)

Socotra's biodiversity on land is undisputed and world famous, but it is equally diverse on the coast and in the sea. I am focusing on the terrestrial realm…


Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens)

Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens)

Out on sea the temperature is balmy, but on land it's a different matter. Close to noon, it must have been close to 40 celsius here on the slopes down to the…


Galápagos bitterbush (Castela galapageia)

Galápagos bitterbush (Castela galapageia)

Galápagos bitterbush (Castela galapageia) is endemic to Galapagos. Isla Isabela-0.254573,-91.368313


Darwin Lake

Darwin Lake

What a wonderful sight - a large body of fresh water. Not! It's brine - much saltier than the ocean due to continuous evaporation. Imagine the disappointment…


Galápagos Flycatcher (Myiarchus magnirostris)

Galápagos Flycatcher (Myiarchus magnirostris)

It sounds like this: Isla Isabela-0.254573,-91.368313


Galápagos bitterbush (Castela galapageia)

Galápagos bitterbush (Castela galapageia)

Galápagos bitterbush (Castela galapageia) is endemic to Galapagos. Isla Isabela-0.254573,-91.368313


Galápagos bitterbush (Castela galapageia)

Galápagos bitterbush (Castela galapageia)

Galápagos bitterbush (Castela galapageia) is endemic to Galapagos. Isla Isabela-0.254573,-91.368313


Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus)

Galápagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus)

Very strange to see penguins in the tropics! Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is not abundant and I saw no real colonies, but like here on the west…


Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus galapagensis)

Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus galapagensis)

This is at the opening of a large cave pounded by the waves. It's quite dark, and against the lava rock the brown noddy (Anous stolidus galapagensis) is not so…