Isabela Lava Lizard
Microlophus albemarlensis
Silhouette: Kurtis Wothe and Giovanna Sainz · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyTropiduridae (Neotropical Ground Lizards)
- GenusMicrolophus (Pacific Iguanas)
- SpeciesMicrolophus albemarlensis (Isabela Lava Lizard)
About the Isabela Lava Lizard
Microlophus albemarlensis, the Galápagos lava lizard, also known as the Albemarle lava lizard or Isabela lava lizard, is a species of lava lizard. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. The species was described as occurring on several islands in the western archipelago: the large islands Isabela, Santa Cruz, Fernandina, Santiago and Santa Fe, as well as several smaller islands: Seymour, Baltra, Plaza Sur, Daphne Major and Rábida. If true, this makes it the most widespread of the Galápagos species of Microlophus, the others only occurring on single islands. Some authors however, consider populations on Santiago, Santa Cruz, and Santa Fe (and associated small islands) to be distinct species (M. jacobii, M. indefatigabilis and M. barringtonensis, respectively).
George Baur first described the species in 1890 as Tropidurus albemarlensis, after an alternate name of the Isabela Island, Albemarle. He also described T. indefatigabilis from Santa Cruz Island (also known as Indefatigable Island). Darrel Frost, in 1992, classified all species of Tropidurus into Microlophus, based on a number of characteristics. The defining, most notable characteristic that contributed to this... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Isabela Lava Lizard in Galápagos Islands
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Galápagos Islands
Santa Cruz Lava Lizard
Microlophus indefatigabilis
San Cristobal Lava Lizard
Microlophus bivittatus
Hood Lava Lizard
Microlophus delanonis
Santiago Lava Lizard
Microlophus jacobii
Floreana Lava Lizard
Microlophus grayii
Santa Fe Lava Lizard
Microlophus barringtonensis
Pinzón Lava Lizard
Microlophus duncanensis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Isabela Lava Lizard in Galápagos Islands?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Isabela Lava Lizard sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 1,025 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Isabela Lava Lizard in Galápagos Islands?
September has the highest sighting rate for Isabela Lava Lizard in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.