Ancient Iguana DNA Reveals Secret History of Mexican Island

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]You think you are the first? Scientists just proved these iguanas beat humans to the island by hundreds of thousands of years. We thought only people could cross oceans.

[00:00:10]But DNA analysis shows Clarion spiny-tailed iguanas diverged from mainland relatives 425,000 years ago.

[00:00:17]While humans were just stumbling around Africa, these green reptiles were already evolving in isolation on a remote Mexican island.

[00:00:25]They weren't invasive species. They were the original colonizers, arriving long before any human foot ever touched that sand.

[00:00:33]Want to know how other animals travel time?

[00:00:36]Follow for more mind-blowing history.