Scat piling and strong frugivory of the Balearic lizard, Podarcis lilfordi (Gunther, 1874).

ABSTRACT:

Background

In lacertid lizards from Mediterranean islands, frugivory is common, particularly under prey scarcity, a characteristic of small islands. In several populations, the diet of the Balearic lizard, Podarcis lilfordi, is extremely variable and includes fleshy fruits. However, frugivory is sporadic and there are very few examples of dominant fruit consumption.

Results

We describe the existence of an extraordinary fruit consumption of a single plant species, the juniper, Juniperus phoenicea, by the Balearic lizard, P. lilfordi. In addition, for the first time in Lacertidae, we describe the existence of scat piling in the population of these lizards inhabiting Cabrera Island (Balearic Islands, Spain). Scat piling was detected in an isolated location with hundreds of scat

SUBMITTER: Perez-Cembranos A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10127053 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature