Evolutionary phenomena leading to an increase of the size of species with insularity
Size comparison of the giant gymnure (moonrat) Deinogalerix from the Late Miocene of Gargano, Italy, with a European hedgehog.
Island gigantism, or insular gigantism, is a biological phenomenon in which the size of an animal species isolated on an island increases dramatically in comparison to its mainland relatives. Island gigantism is one aspect of the more general "island effect" or "Foster's rule", which posits that when mainland animals colonize islands, small species tend to evolve larger bodies, and large species tend to evolve smaller bodies (insular dwarfism). This is itself one aspect of the more general phenomenon of island syndrome which describes the differences in morphology, ecology, physiology and behaviour of insular species compared to their continental counterparts. Following the arrival of humans and associated introduced predators (dogs, cats, rats, pigs), many giant as well as other island endemics have become extinct (e.g. the dodo and Rodrigues solitaire, giant flightless pigeons related to the Nicobar pigeon). A similar size increase, as well as increased woodiness, has been observed in some insular plants such as the Mapou tree (Cyphostemma mappia) in Mauritius which is also known as the "Mauritian baobab" although it is member of the grape family (Vitaceae).
Islandgigantism, or insular gigantism, is a biological phenomenon in which the size of an animal species isolated on an island increases dramatically...
extremities and face. Gigantism is characterized by an excess of growth hormone (GH). The excess of growth hormone that brings about gigantism is virtually always...
posits that when mainland animals colonize islands, small species tend to evolve larger bodies (islandgigantism), and large species tend to evolve smaller...
exhibit insular gigantism, exemplified by the moa, cassowary and Komodo dragon. Although the giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands and the Seychelles...
to unusually large size on islands (in comparison to continental relatives) is known as islandgigantism or insular gigantism. This may occur due to factors...
Insular dwarfism Islandgigantism Predation Cooper, W. E. Jr.; Pyron, R. A.; Garland, T. Jr. (2014). "Island tameness: living on islands reduces flight...
experienced an expansion in size. Millions of years of evolution led to gigantism on every major land mass. During the Quaternary extinction event, many...
animals reached larger than usual sizes, because of a phenomenon called islandgigantism. Among these species, the best known in Tenerife were: The giant rat...
with their continental counterparts. Examples included islandgigantism of Hatzegopteryx, island dwarfism of the titanosaur Magyarosaurus dacus, and a...
between 115 and 360 kg (254 and 794 lb); the Kodiak bear illustrates islandgigantism, commonly reaching sizes of 300 to 600 kg (660 to 1,320 lb). The size...
the island of Madagascar. General: Late Quaternary prehistoric birds Islandgigantism Megafauna Brands, S. (2008) Stephenson, Brent (2009) Brodkob, Pierce...
monospecific endemic palms in Seychelles, Lodoicea is the "only true case of islandgigantism among Seychelles flowering plants, a unique feature of Seychelles vegetation"...
largest extant gecko in the world and is considered an example of islandgigantism. R. leachianus of the Grande Terre localities are capable of growing...
the Pleistocene of the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Sicily. It is considered an example of islandgigantism. Leithia melitensis is the largest known...
infects Spadella arrow worms. Charismatic megafauna Deep-sea gigantism Genome size Islandgigantism Largest body part Largest prehistoric animals List of longest-living...
insular gigantism, they are now thought to represent the last remaining populations of historically widespread giant tortoises i.e. gigantism is an ancestral...
on what was then Gargano Island due to higher sea levels than today. Several of these animals were subject to islandgigantism. The fossils are found in...
L. F. (March 2000). "Endemism, gigantism and extinction in island lizards: the genus Gallotia on the Canary Islands". Journal of Zoology. 250 (3): 373–388...
Mullerornis modestus) and A. maximus have been reported. Island gigantism Æpyornis Island, a short story by H. G. Wells that features the bird. Brands,...
common is gigantism in insular fossil shrews? Examining the 'Island Rule' in soricids (Mammalia: Soricomorpha) from Mediterranean Islands using new body...
Subfamily Clidomyinae Genus Clidomys Clidomys osborni from Jamaica Islandgigantism Thomas Defler (2018). History of Terrestrial Mammals in South America...
Jaffe, A. L.; Slater, G. J.; Alfaro, M. E. (2011). "The evolution of islandgigantism and body size variation in tortoises and turtles". Biology Letters...
undiscovered Martian moons, which his Laputan astronomers had discovered. Islandgigantism Houyhnhnm Lilliput and Blefuscu Struldbrug Yahoo (Gulliver's Travels)...
Global Information