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Summary: Ital. J. Zool., 66. 45-49 (1999)
A montane amphibian andits
feeding habits: Salamandra lanzai
(Caudata, Salamandridae) in theAlps
of northwestern Italy
FRANCO ANDREONE
SARA DE MICHELIS
VALENTINA CLIMA
Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Sezione di Zoologia,
via G.Giolitti, 36,I-10123Torino (Italy)
ABSTRACT
Feeding habits in a population of Salamandra lanzai were
studied at an Alpine meadow at 2020 m a.s.l. in the Cottian Alps,
NW Italy. Adult specimens underwent stomach flushing wasap-
plied to inJune and September 1992,and in July 1993. Salaman-
dra lanzai proved to be an opportunistic predator, feeding onin-
vertebrates within a broad range of categories and sizes. Ground-
dwelling insects (especially carabids) constituted the main part of
the diet. Although S. lanzai is commonly believed to be acom-
pletely terrestrial species, some individuals were observed to feed
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