Millions of years ago, iguanas made an incredible journey from North America to the remote islands of Fiji in the South Pacific. This astonishing feat has puzzled scientists for years, but a recent genetic analysis sheds light on how these fascinating reptiles made their way across the vast ocean.
Fijian iguanas, with their vibrant green scales and striking blue and white markings, seem perfectly suited to the lush tropical environment of the islands. However, their closest relatives are actually found in the deserts of southwestern North America. This discovery has raised questions about how iguanas could have traveled over 5,000 miles to reach Fiji.
Previous theories suggested that iguanas may have reached the islands via land bridges as the supercontinent Gondwana broke apart. Others proposed that the lizards floated on debris rafts from South America, a journey that would have taken several months. However, a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA compared the genomes of Fijian iguanas with those of species in the Americas and found that they were most closely related to desert iguanas from North America.
This genetic evidence indicates that Fijian iguanas diverged from their North American counterparts between 34 million and 31 million years ago, long after Gondwana’s breakup. This suggests that the iguanas likely traveled to Fiji by floating on mats of vegetation that were swept out to sea. This remarkable journey would have been the longest oceanic dispersal by any terrestrial vertebrate known to science.
Biologist Christina De Jesús Villanueva, who specializes in iguanas, was surprised by the close relationship between Fijian iguanas and their North American relatives. She expected a common ancestor between the green iguana and the Galápagos marine iguana to be the predecessor for Fijian iguanas. However, nature and evolution continue to surprise us with their unexpected connections.
Study co-author Simon Scarpetta, an evolutionary biologist, explains that iguanas are well-suited for long oceanic journeys due to their resistance to heat and starvation, slow metabolism, and ability to survive on vegetation mats. This resilience and adaptability make iguanas a prime candidate for enduring the challenges of crossing thousands of kilometers of open ocean.
In conclusion, the journey of iguanas from North America to Fiji millions of years ago remains a remarkable example of nature’s ingenuity and adaptability. By unraveling the genetic mysteries of these captivating reptiles, scientists have gained valuable insights into the incredible feats of survival and dispersal that have shaped the evolution of life on Earth. The digital age has revolutionized the way we live, work, and communicate. With the rise of technology and the internet, we are constantly connected to the world around us in ways that were unimaginable just a few decades ago.
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