Data from: Frugivory by three species of lizards in Madagascar: Implication for their ecological roles as seed dispersers

Animal-mediated seed dispersal, particularly endozoochory, is an important
ecological process for numerous plant species. While most research on
endozoochory has focused on birds and mammals, some lizards are also known
to consume fruits and play a significant role in seed dispersal. However,
lizards remain overlooked as frugivores and seed dispersers. To clarify
the role of lizards as seed dispersers in forest ecosystems, we conducted
behavioral observations and fecal analyses on three diurnal lizard
species: Furcifer oustaleti, Oplurus cuvieri, and Zonosaurus laticaudatus
in a tropical dry forest in Ankarafantsika National Park, northwestern
Madagascar, during the wet seasons from 2022 to 2024 (two years). We also
conducted germination trials on seeds defecated by F. oustaleti and O.
cuvieri. We captured 89, 254, and 38 individuals of the three lizard
species, and 15.8%, 20.1%, and 24.7% of the individuals had seeds in their
feces, respectively. Behavioral observations and fecal analyses revealed
that F. oustaleti, O. cuvieri, and Z. laticaudatus consumed fruits from 8,
18, and 8 plant species. For individuals with seeds in their feces, the
mean number of defecated seeds per individual was 27.2 (range: 1–300), and
we confirmed that some of these species had substantial germination rates
(> 50%). Moreover, lizards tended to consume different plant
species compared to the Common Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus), a principal
seed disperser in this forest. These lizards may therefore play important
roles as seed dispersers, and their contribution to forest regeneration in
Madagascar should be considered.