The origin of native Fijian iguanas has puzzled scientists for decades due to their significant distance from other iguana species, primarily found in the Americas. A new study leveraging genome mapping has uncovered that these iguanas likely rafted over from the United States, specifically being closely related to desert iguanas. This rafting hypothesis draws on past evidence from the 1990s when iguanas traversed long distances during hurricanes. Despite the challenge of covering nearly 30 times the distance compared to prior examples, biologists remain hopeful about the endurance of these reptiles during such treks.
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.
This rafting theory isn't entirely unprecedented. In the 1990s, after hurricanes Luis and Marilyn hit the Caribbean, researchers found that a group of iguanas had floated over 180 miles.
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.
Thanks to genome mapping, researchers think they've found out how: The iguanas rafted.
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