Caribbean Anole Lizard

Caribbean anole lizards independently evolved the same set of ecological specialists on different islands. Each major island hosts trunk-ground species (stocky, long-legged), trunk-crown species (intermediate), twig specialists (short-legged, slow-moving), and canopy giants. This repeated pattern demonstrates that ecological opportunity channels evolution toward predictable outcomes.

Jonathan Losos's research revealed that anole radiations on Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico each independently produced these same 'ecomorphs.' The convergence is so precise that species from different islands occupying the same niche are more similar to each other than to close relatives on their home island. Evolution is more predictable than biologists once assumed.

The business parallel illuminates how market structures shape company morphology. Different industries consistently produce similar organizational forms: every market has its premium players, value competitors, and niche specialists. Like anole ecomorphs, these business morphologies reflect underlying ecological logic rather than historical accident. A premium strategy in automobiles resembles a premium strategy in software more than either resembles value competitors in their own industry.

Anole convergence also suggests market structure is discoverable. If the same niches emerge repeatedly across isolated radiations, entrepreneurs can predict what positions will exist in new markets by studying mature ones. The ecomorphs of established industries preview the specializations that will emerge in nascent ones.