Benito del Oeste (West Benito, 2.6 km2) is the westernmost and largest island of the group. It appears as a plateau with a mound rising 600 ft (202 m) high near the center. A
lighthouse tower, 4 m high, stands in the southern part of the island. The main lighthouse, a prominent, 17 m high tower with a dwelling, stands near the northwest extremity of the island. Rocas Pinaculo, two steep-to rocks, lie 1.6 km west of Benito del Oeste.
Benito del Centro (Central Benito, 0.4 km2) and
Benito del Este (East Benito, 0.9 km2) , the other two islands, lie close east of Benito del Oeste and are separated by
Canal de Peck, a deep passage just 200 ft (c. 65 m) wide. Benito del Este is characterized by four well-defined hills up to 421 ft (c.140 m) high. Benito del Centro is low and flat with a hill 82 ft (25 m) high rising near its eastern end. The vegetation consists mainly of low
shrubs and
herbs as well as some large
cacti (
Cylindropuntia prolifera,
C. ramosissima). There are few land animals and no native mammals. Birds are moderately abundant due to the islands' barrenness, but
Cassin's auklet is rather plentiful at breeding time.
Endemism Due to the islands' remoteness, several
endemic taxa have
evolved here:
Animals: • San Benito side-blotched lizard,
Uta stansburiana stellata • San Benito
house finch,
Carpodacus mexicanus mcgregori –
extinct :Disappeared c. the 1940s, mainly due to overhunting by biological specimen collectors. • San Benito sparrow,
Passerculus rostratus sanctorum (or
Passerculus sandwichensis sanctorum)
Plants: •
Cryptantha patula – only on West Benito •
Dudleya linearis – only on West Benito •
Hemizonia streetsii – West and East Benito •
Malva pacifica – all islands •
Mammillaria neopalmeri – West and East Benito •
Senecio benedictus – only on West Benito ==References==