Herpetological Bulletn 153 (2020) 37 T he nose-horned viper Vipera ammodytes (L., 1758) is a widespread southern European species and the only one to possess a distnguishable sof nose-horn (Arnold & Ovenden, 2004). Among European snakes, it is notable in having the most potent venom (Latnović et al., 2016) and in south-east Europe is responsible for the majority of envenomatons (e.g. Frangides et al., 2006). Vipera ammodytes inhabits a variety of habitats but shows preference for rocky slopes and embankments where it preys on a range of animals. Prey preference has been found to change as these vipers grow. Luiselli (1996) found that small vipers (0-2 years old) preyed upon small lizards (100 %, n=24), larger and older specimens also consumed lizards, but their diet was predominantly passerine birds and mammals (65 %, n=80). Arthropods such as large insects and centpedes have regularly been found in the stomach contents of V. ammodytes, albeit more frequently in juveniles that eat small centpedes (e.g. Arnold & Ovenden, 2004; Heckes et al., 2005; Stlle & Stlle, 2017). Two confrmed and one putatve record of predaton by two juvenile and one adult V. ammodytes are described herein. Precise collecton data are not mentoned here as V. ammodytes is subject to poaching, especially for the pet-trade. However, locality data is available on reasonable request to the author. Predaton on the lizard Ophisops elegans On 20 April 2017 at 16:45 h in Thrace, Greece (28 m asl), a juvenile V. ammodytes was found under a rock and was placed on a white cloth to enable photography. The snake proceeded to regurgitate an Ophisops elegans, identfed from the distnguishing keeled dorsal scales and dorso-lateral stripes (Fig. 1A). The lizard’s tail was folded and compressed (Fig. 1B), likely a result of the contractng intestnal muscles. No measurements were taken. This is the frst record of this predator-prey interacton and additonally the folded tail of the lizard is an interestng observaton (Fig. 1B). This compression of the food-item would appear to ensure an efcient ft in the gastrointestnal tract. Furthermore, many Mediterranean lizards have long tails, which if not somehow folded or compressed during ingeston could hinder the mobility of the predatng snake. Putatve predaton on a passerine bird Passer sp. On 12 June 2019 at 12:32 h in Macedonia, Greece (62m asl) an adult roadkill V. ammodytes was found adjacent to a small dead passerine bird, Passer sp. (Fig. 1C). Both animals are estmated to have died within 2 h of their discovery. It appears that the adult snake had biten and then pursued the bird on to the road where it was subsequently hit by a vehicle; passerine birds are well known prey of V. ammodytes (e.g. Luisella, 1996). The author has encountered an estmated 300 snakes, with a total of 101 confrmed roadkills, on roads in 10 countries over 4 years, but this is the frst observaton of one adjacent to a possible prey item. Predaton on a centpede Scolopendra cingulata On 24 April 2017 at 08:59 h in Macedonia, Greece (62 m asl), a juvenile V. ammodytes was found beneath a small pile of rubble and due to the uniformly enlarged body and lack of a distnct bulge it was considered to be an overweight individual. The specimen’s movements seemed rigid and The Herpetological Bulletin 153, 2020: 37-39 Observatons on the diet of the nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes) in Greece ANTHONY PLETTENBERG LAING HerpCo Limited, Kemp House, 160 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, UK Author e-mail: anthony@herpco.com htps://doi.org/10.33256/hb153.3739 SHORT COMMUNICATION Figure 1. Three specimens of V. ammodytes with various prey items – A. Juvenile adjacent to a regurgitated O. elegans, B. Close-up of the regurgitated O. elegans from Fig. 1A showing a folded tail, C. Adult roadkill found next to a dead passerine bird, D. Juvenile with a regurgitated centpede S. cingulata