Iguanas traveled 5000 miles to reach Fiji

Iguanas are predominantly native to the Americas, but the native iguana species in Fiji is a significant anomaly. Research indicates that these iguanas may have arrived on the Fijian islands approximately 5000 miles away from their closest relatives through a method known as rafting. By analyzing phylogenomic data, scientists constructed an iguana family tree that showed the Fijian iguanas are most genetically similar to desert iguanas found in the United States. This unique rafting hypothesis is supported by historical evidence. In the 1990s, researchers reported a similar case where iguanas were discovered to have floated over 180 miles from Guadeloupe to Anguilla after hurricanes Luis and Marilyn. Such remarkable survival on floating debris supports the notion that iguanas are capable of enduring lengthy journeys at sea, potentially for months. Reaching Fiji, which is substantially farther away than Anguilla, would have presented a monumental challenge. Despite the distance, scientists assert that if any reptiles could manage this, it would be iguanas, known for their strong survival instincts in harsh conditions. The evidence gathered through advancements in genome mapping provides critical insights into the evolutionary biology of iguanas and their capacity to adapt to changing environments. The findings of this study, published in the journal PNAS, tie together both evolutionary biology and the geographical distribution of these reptiles, highlighting the enduring mysteries of animal migration and survival across vast oceanic distances.