Particle.news
Download on the App Store
10 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

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

Genetic analysis confirms North American origins of Fiji iguanas, marking the longest known transoceanic dispersal by a land vertebrate.

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.
green and white striped iguana on a branch
Image

Overview

  • Fiji iguanas likely traveled 5,000 miles from North America to Fiji on vegetation rafts approximately 34 million years ago.
  • This journey is the longest known transoceanic dispersal of any terrestrial vertebrate, confirmed through genome-wide DNA analysis.
  • Genetic evidence links Fiji iguanas to North American desert iguanas, ruling out previous theories of South American or Pacific origins.
  • The iguanas' arrival coincided with the volcanic formation of Fiji's islands, enabling their colonization and adaptation to the new environment.
  • All four species of Fiji iguanas are endangered today due to habitat loss, invasive species, and illegal trade, highlighting urgent conservation needs.