National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Lizards Rapidly Evolve After Introduction to Island


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After being introduced to a new island, the Italian wall lizard underwent rapid physical changes that would normally take millions of years, researchers have found.

For instance the 5-inch-long (13-centimeter-long) reptiles developed an altered digestive tract to adapt to their new vegetarian diet.

Photograph courtesy Anthony Herrel, University of Antwerp