Avicennia germinans
One of the most resilient and physiologically specialized species of the coastal ecosystems of Galápagos. It possesses extreme physiological adaptations that allow it to colonize soils with very little oxygen and salinity levels that would be lethal to virtually any other plant.
It develops pneumatophores: slender, vertical roots that emerge from the substrate like small stakes, enabling gas exchange with the atmosphere even when the soil is completely inundated.
Its branches are preferred nesting sites for the magnificent frigatebird and the brown pelican. Beneath the water, its roots serve as refuge for juvenile blacktip reef sharks and young sea turtles.
