Iguanas' Arrival in Fiji Likely Due to Coastal Drift on Vegetation Floats, Covering Approximately 5,000 Miles.
World's Longest Oceanic Voyage By Land Creatures? Check Out Ancient Iguanas
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Prepare yourself for an epic adventure because, around 34 million years ago, a group of ancient iguanas may have embarked on the longest sea journey ever undertaken by land animals. They sailed a whopping 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles)—one-fifth of the Earth's circumference—across the mighty Pacific Ocean, eventually landing in Fiji.
The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday, help solve the mystery of how these fascinating reptiles managed to reach such remote islands.
Mystery Unraveled
After decades of debate, researchers now believe that these iguanas likely rafted their way across the ocean, riding on gigantic masses of floating vegetation—possibly made up of submerged trees and plants.
The initial hypothesis proposed that an extinct species of iguana somehow crossed the Pacific with no clear timeline. Others suggested they migrated overland from Asia or Australia. However, the latest study casts doubt on these theories, as the iguana's DNA closely resembles that of desert iguanas native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
This extraordinary voyage challenged earlier theories that suggested iguanas made complex overland journeys from South America via Antarctica.
Survival Strategies
Despite the seemingly impossible journey, iguanas have proven themselves well-equipped to brave the high seas. These cold-blooded reptiles can survive extreme conditions, including intense heat, starvation, and dehydration.
The ancestral green iguanas likely spent countless days drifting at sea, relying on their natural survivorship skills to battle hunger, thirst, and deplorable conditions. Over 20 years ago, a group of green iguanas founded just such a journey, floating on vegetation from Guadeloupe to the Caribbean island of Anguilla following a hurricane event.
While the epic journey took months to complete, a few key factors helped the iguanas survive:
- Herbivorous diet: The iguana's natural preference for plants made it possible for them to survive by feeding on the vegetation that carried them across the ocean.
- Endothermy: Contrary to popular belief, iguanas can conserve energy by lowering their body temperature, lowering their metabolism, and reducing the need for food.
- Climate adaptability: The iguana's ability to tolerate various climates likely helped them endure cold ocean waters and survive the long, arduous trip.
The evidence of the iguanas' incredible journey serves as a testament to their resilience and provides valuable insights into how other species might orchestrate similar sea voyages to colonize remote regions worldwide.
So, grab your snorkeling gear and join us as we delve deeper into the mysteries of the natural world. With Wonder Theory, there's plenty more where that came from! 🌟
During this astonishing voyage, the ancient iguanas, en route to Fiji, demonstrated remarkable survival strategies despite exposure to harsh conditions such as dehydration, starvation, and extreme temperatures. Ancient green iguanas, relying on their herbivorous diet, endothermy, and climate adaptability, could expend less energy and conserve resources by feeding on the floatable vegetation that sustained them across the Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, the discovery of the iguanas' DNA closely resembling that of desert iguanas native to North America has added uncertainty to earlier theories suggesting overland migration from South America.
