Erinaceus europaeus, Linnaeus, 1758

Island, Elba, Nicola, Matteo Riccardo Di, Costa, Walter & Mori, Emiliano, 2022, Short communication An evidence of asp viper (Vipera aspis) consumption by a western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) on Elba Island (Italy), Natural History Sciences 9 (2), pp. 35-38 : 36-37

Erinaceus europaeus is mainly but not exclusively crepuscular/nocturnal and it is considered a solitary generalist predator, although primarily an insectivore, its diet is broadly omnivorous ( Reeve, 1994; Roberts, 2011; Canalis, 2012; Aulagnier et al., 2013).

Among its prey, the scientific literature mentions inver- tebrates (insects, arachnids, earthworms, and molluscs), small vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, small rodents, and nestlings), eggs, carrion, seeds and fruits ( Campbell, 1973; Locatelli & Paolucci, 1998; Jackson & Green, 2000; Gaglio et al., 2010; Roberts, 2011; Aulagnier et al., 2013; Rautio et al., 2016). Excluding documentation of lizard and skink consumption for the allochthonous E. europaeus population of New Zealand ( Jones et al., 2005; Spitzen - van der Sluijs et al., 2009; Jones & Norbury, 2011), the consumption of reptiles by the whole Erinaceus genus is only scarcely reported in the literature with rather dated testimonies (e.g. Kalabukhov, 1928; Popov, 1960; Schoenefeld & Yom-Tov, 1985).

Accordingly, also the predation on snakes is only generically indicated [i.e. on Vipera aspis (Linnaeus 1758) ( Günther, 1996; Joger & Stumpel, 2006; Salvador, 1998); on V. latastei (Boscà 1878) ( Valverde, 1967) ; on V. berus (Linnaeus 1758) ( Janssen, 2014; Andrén & Nilson, 1981)] and does not consist of precise records deriving from analysis of faeces, stomach contents or direct observations. In some sources, predation on snakes is even mentioned as “legendary” ( Herter, 1965; Yalden, 1976; Amori et al., 2008). The only exceptions seem to be two photos of snake consumption, a Malpolon monspessulanus (Hermann 1804) from Spain and an asp viper from France, published in Wilson & Mittermeier (2018).

Here we report a second evidence of Vipera aspis consumption by a European hedgehog, the first from Italy.

On 20 th April 2021, at 7.12 pm, one of the authors (W.C.) observed and photographed a Western Europe- an hedgehog eating a dead snake ( Fig. 2 ) in the hamlet of Chiessi (Marciana, Elba, coordinates: 42°45’29’’ N, 10°06’55’’ E, WGS 84, 43 m a.s.l.). The hedgehog was then left undisturbed to continue its meal only to be rechecked at 7.30 pm and was still seen to be feeding. Based on the morphology, the snake was an adult male Vipera aspis francisciredi (Laurenti 1768) , which is the only viper among the five snake species on the island ( Corti et al., 2006; Di Nicola & Vaccaro, 2020; Di Nicola et al., 2021).

The observation began while the hedgehog was already feeding on the viper, which lay lifeless and showed evident injuries, especially on the head and behind the neck. These wounds could be due to predation or, more likely, to a previous accident (e.g., killing by man). Hen- ce, it is not possible to know if this represents predation or carrion consumption.

Figures

Fig. 2 - A hedgehog consuming an asp viper on Elba. / Un riccio che consuma un aspide all’Elba. (Photo/foto:Walter Costa).