Galapagos Marine Life Guide: Sharks, Fish, Rays & More

The Galapagos Islands are surrounded by some of the most extraordinary ecosystems in the world, influenced by three major ocean currents: the cold Humboldt and Cromwell currents, and the warm Panama current. This unique mix creates ideal conditions for the Galapagos Islands marine life, nearly 17% of which is endemic and found nowhere else on Earth.
Snorkelers and divers encounter a dazzling array of Galapagos marine life, from massive whale sharks and schools of hammerheads to colorful creatures like the Sally Lightfoot crab. Many of these underwater Galapagos Islands animals are treasured by travelers and wildlife enthusiasts alike. However, some species, such as sharks and sea cucumbers, remain vulnerable to overfishing. Although the Galapagos Marine Reserve offers protections, illegal hunting—particularly for shark fins—still poses a threat.
Visitors exploring the Galapagos Islands marine life will find everything from sea turtles gliding through the currents to manta rays soaring gracefully in the deep. Below is just a sample of the fascinating aquatic wildlife that can be observed across the archipelago.

Aquatic Wildlife

Species	Islands Best Viewed	Class	Characteristics
Galapagos Shark	Floreana, San Cristobal	Resident	One of the most commonly viewed sharks in the Galapagos. A silverly-gray with a light underbelly.
Black-tipped Reef Shark	Floreana, Santa Cruz	Resident	Very pointed snout, and black tips on its fins. Tends to keep its distance from humans.
White-tipped Reef Shark	North Seymour, Espanola, Floreana, Bartolome	Resident	Have a rounded snout. Along with the Galapagos shark, white-tipped reef sharks are most commonly found in the islands.
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark	Floreana, Genovesa, Santa Cruz	Resident	The Galapagos is one of the only places to view hammerheads in large schools. Easily distinguished by their odd-shaped, flat head.
Whale shark	Darwin, Wolf	Resident	Reaching up to 180 feet, this is the largest fish in the world. Mainly found in open waters, but a rare sight in the islands.
Sally-lightfoot Crab	Widespread	Endemic	Are often seen in large numbers. Their bright red-orange color make them a photographer's favorite.
Ghost Crab	Widespread - intertidal zones	Resident	Flesh colored crab with eyes on stalks, which its lowers when it burrows. Small crab - roughly 4 inches.
Galapagos Hermit Crab	Widespread - intertidal zones	Endemic	Small, dark black/brown crab. Like other hermit crabs, they do not make their own hard shell, but inhabit other mollusc shells.
Sea Cucumber	Widespread	Resident	Relative of the starfish. Dark brown/black with yellow-brown bumps. Commercially exploited and their numbers have decreased dramatically.
Green Sea Urchin	Widespread	Endemic	Small sea urchin with bright green spines. Frequently found in tidal pools.
Sand Dollar	Widespread	Endemic Sub-species	An urchin, whose spins are virtually non-existent. A pale cream color with a clear five-armed star on its surface. Frequently washes onshore.
Chocolate Chip Sea Star	Widespread - rocky coasts	Resident	Five-armed starfish. Orange in color with short black spines. Also called the spiny sunstar.
Sting Ray	Widespread	Resident	Live up to 25 years, and can reach up to 6.5 feet long. Typically found in shallow, coastal waters.
Spotted Eagle Ray	Widespread	Resident	Has a number of white spots on its body. Including its long tail, this ray can reach up to 16 feet long.
Manta Ray	Widespread	Resident	Largest of the rays - specimens have been known to reach 25 feet across. Besides its large size, is distinguished by its horn-like features on the sides of the head.