Brachylophus bulabula
Encyclopedia
Brachylophus bulabula is a species
of iguanid
lizard
endemic to some of the larger central and northwestern islands of Fiji
(Ovalau, Gau
, Kadavu and Viti Levu
), where it occurs in Fijian wet forest
. It was discovered by a team led by a scientist from the Australian National University
in 2008. It is one of the few species of iguanas
found outside of the New World and one of the most geographically isolated members of the family Iguanidae.
name, Brachylophus, is derived from two Greek words: brachys (βραχῦς) meaning "short" and lophos (λοφος) meaning "crest" or "plume", denoting the short spiny crests along the back of this species. The specific name, bulabula, is a doubling of the Fiji word for "hello": bula.
The species is closely related to the Fiji banded iguana and the Fiji crested iguana
. This species was described after a mitochondrial DNA
analysis of 61 iguanas from 13 islands showed that B. bulabula was genetically and physically different from the two other species.
All three species have been suggested to have evolved from iguana
s that crossed, in part over dry land bridges, to Fiji from Southeast Asia
. It has also been suggested that the ancestors of these iguanas rafted
9000 km west across the Pacific Ocean from the Americas, where their closest relatives are found.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of iguanid
Iguanidae
Iguanidae is a family of lizards, composed of iguanas and related species.-Classification of Iguanidae:Two different classification schemes have been used to define the structure of this family. These are the "traditional" classification and the classification presented by Frost et al. .Frost et...
lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
endemic to some of the larger central and northwestern islands of Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
(Ovalau, Gau
Gau Island
Gau is an island belonging to Fiji's Lomaiviti Archipelago. Located at 18.00° S and 179.30 °E, it covers an area of 136.1 square kilometers, with a total shoreline of 66.3 kilometers, making it the 5th largest island in the Fijian archipelago. Its maximum altitude is 738 meters...
, Kadavu and Viti Levu
Viti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
), where it occurs in Fijian wet forest
Tropical rainforest
A tropical rainforest is an ecosystem type that occurs roughly within the latitudes 28 degrees north or south of the equator . This ecosystem experiences high average temperatures and a significant amount of rainfall...
. It was discovered by a team led by a scientist from the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in 2008. It is one of the few species of iguanas
Iguanidae
Iguanidae is a family of lizards, composed of iguanas and related species.-Classification of Iguanidae:Two different classification schemes have been used to define the structure of this family. These are the "traditional" classification and the classification presented by Frost et al. .Frost et...
found outside of the New World and one of the most geographically isolated members of the family Iguanidae.
Taxonomy and etymology
The genericGenus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
name, Brachylophus, is derived from two Greek words: brachys (βραχῦς) meaning "short" and lophos (λοφος) meaning "crest" or "plume", denoting the short spiny crests along the back of this species. The specific name, bulabula, is a doubling of the Fiji word for "hello": bula.
The species is closely related to the Fiji banded iguana and the Fiji crested iguana
Fiji Crested Iguana
The Fiji crested iguana is a critically endangered species of iguana native to some of the northwestern islands of the Fijiian archipelago, where it is found in dry forest.-Taxonomy and etymology:...
. This species was described after a mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria, structures within eukaryotic cells that convert the chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, adenosine triphosphate...
analysis of 61 iguanas from 13 islands showed that B. bulabula was genetically and physically different from the two other species.
All three species have been suggested to have evolved from iguana
Iguana
Iguana is a herbivorous genus of lizard native to tropical areas of Central America and the Caribbean. The genus was first described in 1768 by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in his book Specimen Medicum, Exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis circa Venena...
s that crossed, in part over dry land bridges, to Fiji from Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. It has also been suggested that the ancestors of these iguanas rafted
Rafting event
Oceanic dispersal is a type of biological dispersal that occurs when organisms transfer from one land mass to another by way of a sea crossing on large clumps of floating vegetation. Such matted clumps of vegetation are often seen floating down major rivers in the tropics and washing out to sea,...
9000 km west across the Pacific Ocean from the Americas, where their closest relatives are found.