Status of the Italian snake fauna and assessment of conservation threats

The status of the Italian snake fauna and assessment of conservation threats are examined. Ten independent variables, known to influence survival of free-ranging snake populations, were scored 0-3 for each of the 19 Italian snake species. Some of these variables were related to natural-history and ecological traits, others with distribution and adaptation to altered habitats, and others with non-natural factors (illegal trade). An overall index of relative environmental sensitivity for each of the 19 species was obtained by simple summation of scores. Principal Component Analyses were also used to classify the species into groups vulnerable to particular threats. It was concluded that more than 50% of the Italian snake-fauna is currently under serious threats, and that the majority of the species could decline because of distribution-related parameters. Trade could negatively affect five species, especially when specific life-history attributes of these species (e.g. synchronized mating season, communal hibernacula, etc) could favour easy collection of high numbers of specimens by illegal hunters. Vipera ursinii was the one species potentially threatened by all types of threatening parameters. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.