Interest toward snake biology and ecology is now- adays a matter of fact. Despite dozen and dozen papers on snake biology and diet, it is paradoxical that virtually nothing is available on energetic of natural preys in the wild, nor if geographically intra-specific differences may exist. We have been aimed at testing if prey energetic estimated values com- pared to actually observed prey profiles from wild snakes, may lead to a better interpretation of the diet spectrum, diet range, diet overlapping found in most of the studied snakes. As model species we used the European Whip snake, Hiero- phis viridiflavus, the commonest Italian snake species. Two contrasted areas and populations (Western France vs Central Italy) show marked differences in both prey percentage as well as in prey energetic, suggesting a strong relationship climate-habitat-metabolic requirements.
SNAkES: INTRIGuING ORGANISMS AND THEIR DIET. THE CASE OF THE EuROPEAN WHIP SNAkE, HIEROPHIS VIRIDIFLAVUS
ZUFFI, MARCO ALBERTO LUCA
2011-01-01
Abstract
Interest toward snake biology and ecology is now- adays a matter of fact. Despite dozen and dozen papers on snake biology and diet, it is paradoxical that virtually nothing is available on energetic of natural preys in the wild, nor if geographically intra-specific differences may exist. We have been aimed at testing if prey energetic estimated values com- pared to actually observed prey profiles from wild snakes, may lead to a better interpretation of the diet spectrum, diet range, diet overlapping found in most of the studied snakes. As model species we used the European Whip snake, Hiero- phis viridiflavus, the commonest Italian snake species. Two contrasted areas and populations (Western France vs Central Italy) show marked differences in both prey percentage as well as in prey energetic, suggesting a strong relationship climate-habitat-metabolic requirements.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
