If you have ever wondered where the inspiration for Godzilla came from, look no further.
This incredible video was shot by Steve Winkworth just off the north coast of Isabela Island in the Galápagos. The footage shows a marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) foraging for food, cruising underwater using its tail and returning to the surface for air.
The marine iguana’s ability to forage in sea water makes it unique among modern lizards. As with many of nature’s most obscure creatures, they can only be found in the Galápagos Islands: a place of great inspiration to Charles Darwin.
Although they look like incredible creatures, Darwin wasn’t much of a fan. In one of his diaries, he said: “The black Lava rocks on the beach are frequented by large (2-3 feet, 60-90 centimeters), disgusting clumsy Lizards. They are as black as the porous rocks over which they crawl & seek their prey from the Sea. I call them ‘imps of darkness'. They assuredly will become the land they inhabit.”
The video has since gained some attention after being posted to Reddit on Sunday with the title: “Tiny Godzilla nomming on things underwater.”
Watch the video below and check out Winkworth's YouTube channel for a whole host of beautiful underwater wildlife footage.
