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Fijian Iguanas' 5,000-Mile Rafting Journey Sets Evolutionary Record

New genetic research confirms Fijian iguanas originated in North America, traversing the Pacific 34 million years ago to colonize volcanic islands.

A Fijian crested iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis) resting on a coconut palm on the island of Fiji in the South Pacific. The four species of iguanas that inhabit Fiji and Tonga today are descended from ancestors that colonized the island within the past 34 million years, probably by rafting 5,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean from western North America.
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Overview

  • Fijian iguanas likely traveled 5,000 miles from North America to Fiji on floating vegetation, marking the longest known oceanic journey by a land-dwelling vertebrate.
  • Genetic analysis revealed that Fijian iguanas are most closely related to North American desert iguanas, with their lineages diverging around 34 million years ago.
  • The iguanas' arrival coincided with the volcanic emergence of the Fiji Islands, suggesting rapid colonization of newly formed land.
  • Earlier theories suggesting origins in South America or other Pacific regions have been ruled out by genome-wide sequencing of over 4,000 genes.
  • The findings offer critical insights into the evolutionary resilience of iguanas and provide valuable data for conserving endangered Fijian iguana species.