Baleen whale skeleton, most likely a young Bryde's whale, on lava flow in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

baleen whale skeleton bryde's whale lava flow galapagos islands marine life marine ecosystem whale bones wildlife conservation nature skeleton remains ocean biodiversity extinct species volcanic landscape marine biology animal remains underwater life young whale ecological significance whale death lava terrain natural history scientific research heritage site wildlife preservation evolutionary study whale anatomy paleontology coastal ecosystem environmental study research expedition south america unique landscapes ecotourism biodiversity hotspot marine preservation geological features wildlife observation scientific discovery conservation efforts endangered species ecological research fauna diversity sea life oceanography island ecology