QUITO, ECUADOR -- A new species of lizard has been identified on the eccentric islands of the Galapagos. Upon hatching, the lizard feasts on its siblings that did not hatch and then quickly heads away from the nest to find a mate.

They have to move fast, because after their meal, they have around 8 more minutes until death. Once they find a mate, copulation begins and tiny eggs are quickly fertilized and deposited in sand dunes along the coast.

The females last couple minutes are spent warding off other animals from stealing the newly buried eggs. Her lack of time is displayed with a fearless attack style, sometimes bringing down predators three times her size.

And then the beautiful cycle of life begins again.