Iguana Sports Crab Bowtie in Galapagos
A marine iguana was photographed with a Sally Lightfoot Crab on its neck, resembling a distinctive bowtie.
An iguana on Fernandina Island in the Galápagos archipelago was photographed sporting what appeared to be a crab-shaped bowtie. Photographer Dale Morris captured images of the marine iguana perched on a rock, with a vibrant red Sally Lightfoot Crab clinging to its neck.
Another photograph shows three of the fluorescent crabs on the iguana's back as a wave approaches. In other shots, the crabs were seen crawling on resting iguanas, with neither species appearing disturbed by the other's presence.
Morris described the scene as a "very funny sight" while he was exploring the island. He observed Sally Lightfoot Crabs crawling around, and one coincidentally ended up around the iguana's neck.
The marine iguanas are endemic to the Galápagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador. Sally Lightfoot Crabs are common scavengers found throughout the islands and along the western coast of Central and South America.
These crustaceans and reptiles share a symbiotic relationship. The crabs help to clean the iguanas' black scales as the reptiles prepare to forage for seaweed in the ocean. This interaction provides the crabs with a meal and the iguanas with grooming before they enter the water to feed.