Now Reading: Hurricanes rapidly changed grip traits in island anoles
-
01
Hurricanes rapidly changed grip traits in island anoles
Anoles on two Turks and Caicos islands developed longer forelimbs, shorter hind legs and hind toes, and larger toepads within six weeks of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, The Hindu reports.…
The Story in Brief
Anoles on two Turks and Caicos islands developed longer forelimbs, shorter hind legs and hind toes, and larger toepads within six weeks of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, The Hindu reports. Researchers had recorded the lizards before the storms, which damaged vegetation and killed many animals. Wind-tunnel tests found that the front limbs supplied most of the grip.
A Current Biology study also found increased frequencies of five genes linked to muscle and skeletal development. Gene-editing work in a related brown anole connected hs6st1 with fourth-toe development. The researchers said extreme weather can quickly affect wild populations, but its lasting and wider effects remain uncertain.
The Indian Opinion
This is evidence of rapid selection after severe storms, not proof that evolution routinely happens at extraordinary speed. Claims such as “evolution on steroids” overstate a study based on two islands and a short follow-up. The genetic findings also need longer tracking to show whether the traits persist and spread. The useful test is simple: do later generations retain these body features when storms are absent? If not, the episode may reflect short-term survival rather than lasting change.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
