“Ancient Iguanas: How a 5,000-Mile Pacific Journey Unlocked the Secrets of Prehistoric Survival”
How did iguanas pull off a 5,000-mile ocean voyage? We’re not talking about seasoned sailors here – instead, imagine these scaly creatures hitching a ride on floating vegetation, embarking on a hairy adventure from North America to the idyllic shores of Fiji, over 30 million years ago! A new study dives into this captivating theory, suggesting that these reptiles possibly “rafted” their way across the vast Pacific, not unlike how early humans navigated uncharted waters. Could it be true? Did our green, herbivorous friends really make such a monumental trip? This wild hypothesis is not just speculation; researchers say they have the evidence to back it all up. So grab your snorkeling gear – or your thinking cap; let’s explore the intriguing journey of Fiji’s iguanas! LEARN MORE
The study theorizes that Fiji’s iguanas made their way across 5,000 miles of ocean from North America atop “rafts” made from vegetation or uprooted trees.
Nicholas HessCrested iguanas (Brachylophus vitiensis) like this one are closely related to North American desert iguanas.
Fiji’s iguanas have long been a mystery. How did the reptiles make it to an island more than 1,000 nautical miles from land? A new study has postulated that iguanas got there like early humans did: by watercraft.
More specifically, the study suggests that the iguanas “rafted” from North America to Fiji on clumps of vegetation some 30 to 34 million years ago, a journey that would have taken the reptiles across 5,000 miles of open sea.
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