Island Lizards Shrink and Horses Get Bigger Because of These Evolutionary Patterns

Why do certain animals get bigger and others get smaller over time? Learn why the size of an animal depends on food availability and extinction risk.

By Elizabeth Gamillo
Jan 18, 2024 10:15 PMJan 19, 2024 2:15 PM
reptiles
(Credit: GoodFocused/Shutterstock)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

A new computer model might explain why some animals shrink over time while others grow. It has to do a lot with their habitat and resource availability.

"Where direct competition is less, sizes tend to get bigger, even though being big and few in number can make animals more vulnerable to dying out – such as what happened with the dinosaurs," said Shovonlal Roy, study lead author who specialized in ecosystem modeling at the University of Reading, in a press release. The study was published in Communications Biology.

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.