Endemic species are those that can only be found in a certain geographic area and are not found anyplace else. They usually emerge as a result of a mix of geographical isolation and evolutionary processes. In the case of the Miyako Islands, their isolation from the rest of Japan and other surrounding landmasses has aided in the evolution of distinct species over time. Miyako Islands are home to a variety of native snakes and lizards. Scientists have long wondered how these creatures came to call these islands home. A group of academics reviewed the most recent geological and biological data