Digestive System
The marine iguana feeds primarily on algae found under water and in tidal pools along the Galapagos islands, but will occasionally eat low lying fruit and crustaceans. If need be, they can hold their breath for over half an hour under water to feed, and once finished, sun bathe on the shore to regain their normal body temperature. Because they eat algae, they play a key role in the maintenance of algae levels in the Galapagos. Marine iguanas have no special tissues or organs for digesting but have adapted a special way to remove the salt ingested during feeding. After they have left the water, marine iguanas will repeatedly sneeze to remove the salt from their systems.