Jonathan Lambert

Right, right. Yeah, this idea assumes that Fijian iguanas are the sole surviving ancestors of that larger group that made this trip.

Right, right. Yeah, this idea assumes that Fijian iguanas are the sole surviving ancestors of that larger group that made this trip.

The second idea is that they sailed there on some kind of raft of vegetation.

The second idea is that they sailed there on some kind of raft of vegetation.

The second idea is that they sailed there on some kind of raft of vegetation.

Yeah, yeah. But until this paper, scientists hadn't really been able to confirm it either way, whether they made it there very gradually or all in one go.

Yeah, yeah. But until this paper, scientists hadn't really been able to confirm it either way, whether they made it there very gradually or all in one go.

Yeah, yeah. But until this paper, scientists hadn't really been able to confirm it either way, whether they made it there very gradually or all in one go.

Yeah, yeah. So understanding what else Fijian iguanas are closely related to could give scientists clues about where they came from. And knowing how old they are could indicate how likely it is that they walked over these ancient land bridges.

Yeah, yeah. So understanding what else Fijian iguanas are closely related to could give scientists clues about where they came from. And knowing how old they are could indicate how likely it is that they walked over these ancient land bridges.

Yeah, yeah. So understanding what else Fijian iguanas are closely related to could give scientists clues about where they came from. And knowing how old they are could indicate how likely it is that they walked over these ancient land bridges.

basically by figuring out the iguana family tree. They used genomic data from 14 different iguana species to see who was most closely related to whom, and the results surprised Scarpetta.

basically by figuring out the iguana family tree. They used genomic data from 14 different iguana species to see who was most closely related to whom, and the results surprised Scarpetta.

basically by figuring out the iguana family tree. They used genomic data from 14 different iguana species to see who was most closely related to whom, and the results surprised Scarpetta.

Yeah, the kind that currently lives in the southwestern U.S.

Yeah, the kind that currently lives in the southwestern U.S.

Yeah, the kind that currently lives in the southwestern U.S.

And they estimated that these iguanas split a little over 30 million years ago. Now, that timeline doesn't quite line up with the land bridge idea because such bridges would have been either underwater or covered in ice or just too cold for cold-blooded lizards at the time. So there would have been no way for iguanas to walk there.

And they estimated that these iguanas split a little over 30 million years ago. Now, that timeline doesn't quite line up with the land bridge idea because such bridges would have been either underwater or covered in ice or just too cold for cold-blooded lizards at the time. So there would have been no way for iguanas to walk there.

And they estimated that these iguanas split a little over 30 million years ago. Now, that timeline doesn't quite line up with the land bridge idea because such bridges would have been either underwater or covered in ice or just too cold for cold-blooded lizards at the time. So there would have been no way for iguanas to walk there.