Facultative Frugivory in the Cape Flat Lizard, Platysaurus capensis (Sauria: Cordylidae)

fig trees, indicating a flexible recognition ability. During foraging in debris, lizards stayed close to exposed rock. Interference competition between lizards was strong, resulting in individuals running to areas free of other lizards to avoid harassment during feeding. Adults were more likely to approach feeding lizards than juveniles. Lizards also exhibited a strong sensory bias for moving objects, selecting moving unripe (inedible) figs over stationary ripe figs. Adult lizards chose large ripe figs over two classes of older, more desiccated figs; ripe figs were consumed disproportionately to their availability. Experiments using paint-manipulated ripe and unripe figs showed that, when size is controlled, lizards use color and/or brightness as an initial indicator of fig quality. Visual evaluation was often followed by tongue-flicking or nudging with the snout. This study represents the first detailed examination of feeding behavior in a cordylid lizard.