How did iguanas get to Fiji? Chances are, they floated nearly 5,000 miles on vegetation rafts
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About 34 million years ago, the ancestors of the modern Agwana are likely to be the longest journey over the water carried out by non -human non -human vertebrates.
Starting with the epic journey from the western coast of North America, this Eguana traveled about 5,000 miles (8,000 km)-the fifth perimeter of the Earth-through the Pacific Ocean, finally arrived in Fiji, according to a new study.
Using genetic evidence, researchers suggest that this Eguana made an unusual trip by riding the floating vegetation, and perhaps consisting of trees or plants that have been uprooted.
For decades, scientists discussed how Iguanas Fiji arrives. The main author of the study, Dr. Simon Scarpeta, an assistant professor at the University of San Francisco, said that the extinct species of Agwana rises from the Americas without a clear timetable, while others suggested that the lizards migrated by land from Asia or Australia. Scarpetta conducted this research during the fellowship of the National Science Foundation after a doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley, and in its current role.
The results published on Monday in the magazine The facts of the National Academy of SciencesHelp clarify the long mystery of how these reptiles reach such remote islands.
Scarbita and his team aim to test each of the theories of rowing over water and wildness, in addition to other hypotheses of the geographical origin of the Vigian, including dispersion through the Antarctica or across Burning Land Bridge.
Scarbita added that understanding this type of water dispersion could provide new visions on how to colonize other types over time.
Genetic tracking
Iguanas has already shown the ability to survive on the travel of the ocean for long distances, according to a study conducted in October 1998. At least 15 green Iguana appeared on the beaches of Angela in the Caribbean Sea region In 1995 On the rolls of the besieged trees. The researchers decided that the lizards may likely float 200 miles (322 km) from Guadloop after a hurricane.
Scarbita noticed that this type of crawling in water is often described as “lottery”, a rare event that allows species to colonize an inaccurate area. The main weather events, such as hurricanes or floods, can extinguish plants and carry animals with them.
To determine when Iguanas arrived in Fiji, the researchers analyzed the genes of 14 types of live Eguana. The team found that the closest living relative of Agwanas Viagian is Dipsosaurus – a type of original desert Iguanna in the southwest of the United States and northwest of Mexico, according to the new study.
Scarbita said fossil evidence also supports the idea that these unknown in North America, where excavations were not found from the desert Iganna elsewhere in the world.
Scarbita said the analysis also indicates that the Vegian Agwanas deviated from their American ancestors 34 million and 30 million years ago, and it settled almost like the volcanic formation of the Fiji Archipelago.
This time challenges challenge previous theories that Iguanas may have made a complex land trip from South America across the Antarctica, which would have been later in history, said Dr. Jimmy McGuer, Professor of Integrated Biology at the University of California, Berkeley.
“In evolutionary analyzes, there is always a degree of uncertainty when trying to predict the timing of the difference of difference between species,” said Dr. Shin Campbell Staton, Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University, who did not participate in the study. “In this case, the authors were very accurate in collecting different types of genetic data and using them (D) various models … to test their hypothesis and find that most of the results are largely agreed.”
How was the trip possible?
Although a period of months across the Pacific may seem impossible, Iguanas is amazing amazingly equipped for such severe travel.
“If you have to choose a group of vertebrates that can survive the rowing event across thousands of kilometers from the open ocean, the eguanas is a great choice,” said Scarbita.
Scarbita pointed out that many types of Eguana, especially those in desert environments, can carry extreme heat, hunger and dehydration.
“Being external means that you do not spend many of your nutritional resources or fat reserves that maintain a high body temperature,” said McGoer, referring to the metabolism rate of cold -blood animals, “referring to the metabolism rate of cold -blood animals. “Bringing can be about 25 times more efficient in this regard than Endotherms (Warm blood animals), so they do not need to eat almost or almost often. “
Some estimates indicate that the Overwateer trip from North America to Fiji could have taken anywhere from four to 12 months. However, the most recent simulation operations indicate that the trip may be closer to two months to four months, SCCCCCCCISTA said.
Despite the basic survival challenges, the scarcity of food is likely to be a major task. If necessary, herbes may be able to feed on floating vegetable cover mats.
Scientists said they hope that by studying dispersion events, they may be able to predict the types that can escape long -term travel, providing new visions on how animals spread all over the world.
“Now we know that Overwateer is not only possible, but it is likely to play a major role in shaping the diversity of species in the islands all over the world,” said Campbell Steton via email.
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