Marine Iguana Facts: Meet the World’s Only Sea-Going Lizard That Sneezes Salt

The marine iguana is the world’s only sea-going lizard , a rare reptile that has evolved to survive in one of the most challenging environments on Earth - the ocean. Found only in Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands, this unique creature dives into the sea to feed on algae, swims through powerful currents, removes excess salt by sneezing, and can even shrink its body during periods of food scarcity. With its rough skin, sharp claws and spiny back, the marine iguana looks like a creature from another era, but its unusual adaptations make it one of nature’s most fascinating survivors.