Research on the ecology of hybridization has often emphasized the deleterious consequences on fitness. Selection against hybrids is assumed to reinforce reproductive isolation among incipient species. However, recent data has demonstrated hybridization may enhance diversity by generating novel phenotypes. Although a substantial body of research has focused on life history differences between hybrids and parental species, limited data are available on functional traits that may affect how hybrids exploit resources or evade predators. Female marine iguanas and male land iguanas are known to hybridize on Isla Plaza Sur, Galapagos. We measured morphology and performance traits of hatchling hybrid marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) x land iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus), and the parental species. We estimated their stamina by inducing them to run on a treadmill until exhaustion. We also obtained measurements for 7 morphological traits. Hybrid iguanas were smaller and lighter than hatchlings of either parental species. Hatchling marine iguanas were the heaviest. Hatchling iguanas also differed in limb and tail lengths from the parental species. The performance trials demonstrated that hybrid hatchlings exhibited greater stamina than either parental species; hatchling marine iguanas were capable of longer sustained movement than land iguanas and appeared more similar to hybrid hatchlings. Our results show that hybrids are smaller in multiple external traits, yet have enhanced performance capacities. Hybrids tend to be more similar in functional traits to marine iguanas than land iguanas, suggesting a possible maternal influence in morphology. However, higher values of physiological performance are indicative of a novel phenotype, which would not be predicted by morphology.