About diet of Vipera ursinii (Bonaparte, 1835) in a central Apennine grassland landscape: what do they eat when orthoptera are not present?

Vipera ursinii has a very short period of activity and has a fragmented population; it lives in similar habitats but at different altitudes. In view of its Italian distribution, this study dealt with mountain populations that frequent on primary pastures above the forest line, from 1600 to 1850 m a.s.l. At these altitudes and latitudes, the snake is known as a large consumer of meadow orthoptera. The aim of the research is to identify and analyze the diet of Vipera ursinii in a period when orthop- tera is not available. The present work was carried out in the Apennines (central Italy), the subjects studied were juveniles and adults. The diet of this snake has never been studied in the subject areas, therefore the research results provides new insight. Regurgitated material and fecal droppings obtained by non-invasive ventral palpation were analyzed.