Frugivory, the eating of fruit, is only known from a few chameleon species. These are mainly isolated observations. Japanese scientists have recently investigated the extent to which fruit-eating chameleons could contribute to the spread of plant seeds.

The study was carried out in the Ankarafantsika National Park in western Madagascar. Three species of reptiles in Madagascar were observed during two rainy seasons and their droppings were examined: The Madagascar giant chameleon Furcifer oustaleti, the Madagascar iguana Oplurus cuvieri and the plated lizard Zonosaurus laticaudatus. The reptiles were observed during the day and filmed or photographed while feeding on fruit and then captured. Chameleons were mainly caught at night. Fruits with seeds were collected for identification from plants on which reptiles of the three species mentioned had been feeding. All captured reptiles were kept in net containers for 6 days until faeces were deposited. The animals were then microchipped and released back into their habitats. The scientists then attempted to sow plant seeds obtained from the animals’ excrement.

A total of 89 chameleons, 254 Madagascar iguanas and 38 shield lizards were captured for the study. 24.7% of the Furcifer oustaleti sampled had plant seeds in their feces, compared to 20.1% of the iguanas and 15.8% of the tortoiseshell lizards. The observations showed that the chameleons and the plated lizards ate fruit from at least eight different plants, while the iguanas ate from as many as 18 different plant species. Some of the plant seeds obtained from the feces had germination rates of over 50%.

During the observation period in Ankarafantsika, Furcifer oustaleti only ate red, black or brown fruits with a maximum diameter of one centimeter. Green or larger fruits were always left on the plants. The fruits were usually first tapped with the tongue before they were actually eaten. Sometimes the fruits were also shot with the tongue. Fruits of Grangeria porosa, Terminalia boivinii, Trilepisium madagascariense, Antidesma madagascariense, Bridelia perviellana, Phyllanthus casticum, Chassalia princei and Doratoxylon chouxii were ingested by Furcifer oustaleti. Fruits were recorded from both sexes of chameleons and regardless of body size in each of the observation months.

The authors conclude that all three reptile species could contribute to the spread of plants in their habitat. Until now, the brown maki (Eulemur fulvus) in Ankarafantsika was primarily thought to be a seed disperser. Now the considerations should probably be extended to reptiles and their role in the forest ecosystem – even if the proportion of seeds in their droppings is significantly lower than that of lemurs.

Frugivory by three species of lizards in Madagascar: Implication for their ecological roles as seed disperser
Ryobu Fukuyama, Wataru Noyori, Shuichiro Tagane, Shouta Iyoda, Hiroki Sato
Biotropica 57(4): e70052
DOI: 10.1111/btp.70052

Photo: Furcifer oustaleti eating fruit, image from the above-mentioned publication