REPTILE HELPERS
Lizards aren’t the first creatures that come to mind when thinking about pollination. In fact, there are only a few species that even visit flowers, including the nectarhungry Noronha skink (Euprepis atlanticus), which seeks out flowers of the Mulungu tree (Erythrina velutina) in Brazil. These flowers bloom during Brazil’s dry season, and these skinks take advantage of the water content of the flowers’ nectar. Without fur and hairs for pollen to cling to, it gets stuck between the lizard’s scales – predominantly on its belly and chin. Similarly, on the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius, the ornate day gecko (Phelsuma ornata) can be seen with grains of pollen covering its scaly face after a day foraging for nectar.