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 was applied to in June and September 1992, and in July 1993. Salamandra lanzai proved to be an opportunistic predator, feeding on invertebrates 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 a completely terrestrial species, some individuals were observed to feed on aquatic Trichoptera larvae. The utilization of prey taxa by number of specimens consumed and volume consumed varied seasonally. Mean ingested volume per salamander averaged 173–76 ± 449.31 mm3, i.e., about 1.39% of the average salamander mass (12.56 ± 3.43 g; range 6.0–22.5 g). Prey mass and predator mass were positively correlated in males, which most likely are more active than females. The prey mass to predator mass ratio was not significantly correlated with log predator mass, neither for males nor for females.
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