Galápagos prickly pear

''Opuntia echios'' is a species of plant in the Cactaceae family. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands and is commonly known as the Galápagos prickly pear, but there are five other species of prickly pears that also are endemic to the archipelago .


There are five varieties of ''Opuntia echios'', each with a different appearance and distribution: ''Opuntia echios'' var. ''echios'' on the islands of Santa Cruz, Baltra, Daphne Major and South Plaza, ''Opuntia echios'' var. ''barringtonensis'' on Santa Fe, ''Opuntia echios'' var. ''gigantea'' near Academy Bay on Santa Cruz, ''Opuntia echios'' var. ''inermis'' on the Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela and ''Opuntia echios'' var. ''zacana'' on North Seymour.