Researchers have long been intrigued by how iguanas arrived in Fiji, a remote cluster of islands in the South Pacific. The majority of today’s iguanas are found in the Americas, separated from Fiji by thousands of miles and the vast Pacific Ocean. Previously, scientists speculated that iguanas might have travelled through Asia or Australia before volcanic activity displaced the islands.
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However, new research suggests a different scenario: millions of years ago, iguanas made the astonishing 5,000-mile (8,000-kilometre) journey to Fiji on rafts of floating vegetation, comprising uprooted trees and plants. This remarkable feat is believed to be the furthest any land-dwelling vertebrate has ever travelled across the ocean. The idea that iguanas floated to Fiji is supported by genetic analysis of 14 iguana species from the Americas, Caribbean, and Fiji, revealing that Fijian iguanas are closely related to desert iguanas from North America, with the species diverging around 31 million years ago.
To further support this hypothesis, researchers developed a statistical model that incorporates the iguanas’ current distribution and potential spread. The model confirmed that the most plausible explanation is that iguanas floated to Fiji from North America. As desert-dwelling creatures, they would have been well-suited to the journey, capable of surviving long periods without water and feeding on vegetation along the way.
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Fijian iguanas are now endangered, with the presence of invasive green iguanas adding to the threat. Understanding their origins, according to researchers, could help conservation efforts to protect these unique reptiles. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
