Seed dispersal
Giant subfossil lemurs are thought to have also played a significant role in seed dispersal, possibly targeting species that did not attract the seed dispersal services of the extinct elephant birds. Biogeochemistry studies have shown that they may have been the primary seed dispersers for the endemic and native C3 trees in the spiny forests. Terrestrial species may have dispersed seeds for small bushes as well as tall trees. Seed dispersal can involve passing seeds through the gut (endozoochory) or attaching the seeds to the animal's body (epizoochory), and both processes probably occurred with subfossil lemurs. Seeds from "Uncarina" species embed themselves in lemur fur, and likely did the same with subfossil lemurs. Seed dispersal biology is known for very few species in the spiny forest, including genera of plants suspected of depending on giant lemurs, such as "Adansonia", "Cedrelopsis", "Commiphora", "Delonix", "Diospyros", "Grewia", "Pachypodium", "Salvadora", "Strychnos", and "Tamarindus". For example, "Delonix" has edible pods that are rich in protein, and "Adansonia" fruits have a nutritious pulp and large seeds that may have been dispersed by "Archaeolemur majori" or "Pachylemur insignis".