The Shore Zone or "Littoral" Zone

The shore (or littoral) zone of the Galapagos encompasses the range of habitats that occur close to the sea, including salt-water lagoons. These habitats include rocky shores, sea cliffs, sandy beaches and lagoons, as well as areas of mangroves, saltbush and Sea Purslane Sesuvium which are able to tolerate the saline conditions. The habitats of the shore zone support many seabirds, waterbirds and shorebirds as well as some landbirds. The most obvious mammalian inhabitants are the sea lions, and the shore zone is also home to Marine Iguanas and Green Sea Turtle. In addition, lava lizards and leaf-toed geckos are found here, and snakes can occasionally be seen.