0 past simple and past participle of defecate --
1 to pass the contents of the bowels out of the body --
During this study period of the seed species (n = 47) defecated by howlers, 36% had a diameter 5-10 mm and 49% 10-15 mm.
Samples from the same individual that were defecated in a period of less than 3 min were grouped into a single sample for analysis.
The first three species regurgitated seeds onto branches, whereas mousebirds defecated the seeds.
Whether the seeds had been defecated or regurgitated was recorded depending on the presence or absence, respectively, of urates and other faecal material.
Seeds defecated by the latter species showed decreased viability, but the number of seeds tested was small.
The number of seeds that were found deposited in a group also differed depending on whether seeds had been defecated or regurgitated.
Regurgitated seeds were also more frequently found singly or in small groups than defecated seeds.
Thus, a significantly higher proportion of regurgitated seeds germinated than defecated seeds.
