Distribution, natural history and morphometrics of the critically endangered Coluber hippocrepis populations of Sardinia: a review, with additional data and conservation implications

The horseshoe snake (Coluber hippocrepis) is one of the most threatened Ita lian snakes, especially in Sardinia where its present occurrence was unclea r, This paper reviews the current distribution of C. hippocrepis in Sardini a, and confirms that this species is still found in a limited number of sit es of Cagliari province. Its actual presence in Oristano province, on the c ontrary, is still in doubt. Statistical analyses on several morphometric me asurements taken from museum specimens suggest that snakes from the central Mediterranean area (Sardinia, Pantelleria, and Tunisia) are distinguished from those of the western Mediterranean area (Portugal and Morocco) by havi ng significantly higher numbers of ventrals. A few natural-history notes on Sardinian specimens are presented, and a rationale for an urgent conservat ion plan is given.