Galapagos Mammals: Animals & Wildlife of the Galapagos Islands

Galapagos travel offers some of the world’s most unforgettable wildlife viewing opportunities. Many visitors recall swimming alongside playful sea lion pups or watching dolphins leap and race at the bow of their ship as their favorite Galapagos memories. Yet, despite these experiences, the number of Galapagos mammals is surprisingly limited. Unlike reptiles and birds, which thrive in the islands’ isolated environment, mammals face unique challenges.

Because most mammals cannot survive long periods without fresh water, very few were able to make the epic 620-mile journey across open ocean from mainland South and Central America to the volcanic archipelago. As a result, the mammalian diversity in the Galapagos Islands is low compared to reptiles and seabirds. Still, the species that did establish themselves—both on land and in surrounding waters—play a fascinating role in the islands’ ecosystems.

Below is an overview of both land and aquatic Galapagos mammals visitors may encounter.

Key to Species’ Classification

Endemic: Found only in the Galapagos Islands.
Endemic Subspecies: Exists elsewhere but no interbreeding with the Galapagos population.
Resident: Found in the Galapagos and elsewhere, breeds both locally and globally.
Possible Resident: Present throughout the year, but no records of breeding on the islands.

Visitor: Seen regularly but does not breed in the Galapagos.

Land Mammals

Species	Islands Best Viewed	Class	Characteristics
Galapagos Rice Rat	Santa Fe	Endemic	Small brown rat with bat-like ears. Live in holes, under rocks and in Opuntia cacti.
Black or Ship Rat	Widespread	Pest	An introduced species to the Galapagos that is a serious threat to the ecosystem. A dark brown/black rat. Tail is longer than the body.
Galapagos Bat	Santa Cruz, San Cristobal	Endemic	A close relative of the Red Bat in South America. Roosts in dense shrubs and mangroves during the day.
Hoary Bat	Santa Cruz, San Cristobal	Resident	Has rust colored fur, cream colored throat and a very distinctive call. Also widespread in North America

Aquatic Mammals

Species	Islands Best Viewed	Class	Characteristics
Galapagos Sea Lion	Widespread - coasts	Resident	Largest animal found on the Islands. Male is much larger than female. Pups are very curious and commonly swim with humans.
Galapagos Fur Seal	Widespread - rocky coasts	Endemic	Smaller than sea lions with a short snout and bear-like head. Prefer shady spots on rocky cliffs where deep water is easily accessible.
Bryde's Whale	Surrounding waters	Visitor	Is known to approach boats and is the most likely seen variety of baleen whale.
Minke Whale	Surrounding waters	Visitor	Has distinct white patches on the flippers. Also approaches ships, but is less common than the Bryde. Begins blowing underwater - full spout is only seen when it breaches.
Humpback Whale	Surrounding waters	Visitor	White underbelly, with a distinctive knobby head and humped back, and very long flippers.
Sperm Whale	Surrounding waters	Visitor	Very large square head. Body is dark gray and often scarred - reminders of deep sea battles with giant squids. Can dive a mile into the depths of the ocean.
Shortfin Pilot Whale	Surrounding waters	Possible Resident	Often seen in groups of 30-40, and in the company of dolphins. All black with a rounded head that is easily seen when it breathes.
Orca	Surrounding waters	Possible Resident	A frequently viewed toothed whale. Primarily black with distinctive white marks on the belly and near the eyes. Very tall dorsal fin.
Bottle-nosed Dolphin	Surrounding waters	Possible Resident	The most commonly viewed dolphin in the islands. Enjoys riding the waves near the bows of ships. Generally travel in groups of 20 to 30.
Common Dolphin	Surrounding waters	Visitor	Travels in large groups of several hundred dolphins. Smaller than the bottle-nosed with elaborate coloring of dark and light grays.

Discovering Galapagos Mammals

Though the number of Galapagos mammals is small compared to reptiles and seabirds, they remain among the most beloved highlights of any trip. Watching sea lions nap on rocky shores, spotting a fur seal in the shade of a cliff, or seeing dolphins dance in the waves leaves travelers with unforgettable memories. Together, these rare but remarkable mammals underscore the Galapagos’ status as a truly unique wildlife destination.