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What exactly is insular dwarfism?
Learn more about these creatures great and small
© Shutterstock/Getty Images
How is the size of an animal reduced over a series of generations? In other words, what is the process by which, for example, a chameleon the size of your hand ends up being no bigger than the tip of your finger?
We are talking about a fascinating evolutionary process called insular dwarfism which occurs when a mammal's gene pool is limited to a very small and secluded environment, usually an island. And guess what, it's been taking place since the time of the dinosaurs. So how exactly does it work, and what creatures best exemplify this extraordinary condition?
Click through and size up the process known as insular dwarfism.
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