Biologist Jonathan Losos of Washington University, Saint Louis
MO., studied Anolis sagrei lizards in the Bahamas. Anoles that
lived on islands with taller vegetation and broad perches had
longer legs. (Compared to . . . the article didn't say.)
In 1977 & 81 groups of anoles were moved to islands that had no
lizards. In 1991 Losos returned to the island and measured the
adult lizards. On islands that had shorter vegetation the lizards had
shorter limbs.
Also, as stated in the article, they don't know yet if the changes
that occurred are genetic in origin.
What I assume is news worthy is that the lizards underwent such a
change so quickly. Indeed the article mentions this. If this is in fact
evolution in action, to anyone's knowledge, would this be the first
event of its kind that has been observed? I would think not.
Perhaps someone has read about this in a science journal . . .
Kevin