It has a different colored nose, is intermediate in size, has a slightly different pattern on its body and is found only in the central region of Fiji. As part of the research, the team also evaluated competing arguments about how the iguana arrived in the Pacific. The Pacific iguanas of the Fijian and Tongan archipelagos are a bio-geographic enigma because their closest relatives are found only in the Americas. Keogh said the genetic analysis adds weight to the theory the iguanas "floated on some kind of raft" to the Fijian islands somewhere between 13 to 14 million years ago. The competing argument suggests the animals came via Asia when Fiji was connected to Melanesia. "The problem with that is it requires there to be relatives in Asia and there aren't," he said. The analysis also shows that with only one exception, every island for which there were samples was represented by at least one distinct iguana lineage. Keogh said their work is particularly important in helping the Fijian Government find ways to protect the reptile. The largest grouping of the rare reptiles is found on Yadua Taba, the official reserve for the crested iguana, where some 10,000 iguanas are believed to live. Related Links: |
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