Geographic variation in the diet composition of a secretive Mediterranean colubrid snake: Coronella girondica from Spain and Italy

A comparative analysis of the diet of the small-sized colubrid snake, Coron ella girondica, from Spain and Italy was carried out. More than 95% of the prey consumed by Spanish C. girondica had diurnal behaviours, and ail the p rey were terrestrial dwelling or 'rupicolous' species, with no arboreal ite m being eaten. The same was true also for the Italian specimens. Lizards (m ainly lacertids) accounted for the main bulk of the prey spectrums in both the Spanish and Italian samples. However, Italian specimens preyed frequent ly upon ground arthropods (mainly chilopods), that were not consumed by Spa nish specimens. Mean prey size was similar in both the geographic areas. So me ecological implications of the observed patterns are highlighted.