Lizards Polychrus acutirostris (Sauria: Polychrotidae) and Ameiva ameiva (Sauria: Teiidae) as possible dispersers of the toxic plant Lantana camara (Verbenaceae)

Resumen

Several species of lizard consume considerable amounts of plant material, and some can be seed dispersers. Between April and May 2021, five lizards were found that had consumed fruit of Lantana camara, a female specimen of Polychrus acutirostris and four specimens (three males and one female) of Ameiva ameiva. Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) is a plant naturalized in Brazil found in all regions, including areas of Caatinga, Carrasco, and Cerrado. It has fruit resistant to the digestion of its consumers. In ruminants, its consumption is associated with toxicity, with hepatotoxic and photosensitization effects. Our data present, for the first time, the consumption of these fruit by these two lizard’s species and suggest active feeding of L. camara as an additional feed resource, indicating that these lizards could be potential dispersers of L. camara seeds.