A new study utilizing phylogenomic data has shed light on the mysterious arrival of iguanas in Fiji, nearly 5,000 miles from their native Americas. Researchers believe these reptiles likely traveled across vast oceanic distances by rafting on vegetation, a feat supported by previous observations of iguana survival after Caribbean hurricanes.
Most iguanas are indigenous to the Americas. So how did the Fiji an species end up on the island, nearly 5000 miles away in the South Pacific?
According to aAnd this rafting hypothesis isn't entirely unprecedented. After hurricanes Luis and Marilyn hit the Caribbean in the 1990s, researchers found that a group of iguanas hadListen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ atA native green iguana on Fiji. For years, biologists puzzled over how these iguanas had ended up in the South Pacific, so far from other iguana species. A new study sheds light on their evolution.
A native green iguana on Fiji. For years, biologists puzzled over how these iguanas had ended up in the South Pacific, so far from other iguana species. A new study sheds light on their evolution.
For decades, it's been a scientific mystery. Most iguanas are indigenous to the Americas; however, native Fijian iguanas, call an island nearly 5000 miles away from their closest relatives in the South Pacific home.
Biologists used phylogenomic data to essentially build an iguana family tree — seeing which species were most closely related to one another. 'The iguanas that live on Fiji were most closely related to a group of iguanas that I knew very well from the United States called desert iguanas,' says
Reaching Fiji would have been nearly 30 times as far — a months-long journey of thousands of miles. But, the scientists who study these creatures say that if any creature could survive, it's iguanas. Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at This episode was produced by Hannah Chinn and edited by our showrunner Rebecca Ramirez. Jon Lambert and Tyler Jones checked the facts. The audio engineer was Zo vanGinhoven.
Iguanas Fiji Evolution Ocean Rafting Phylogenomics
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