Abstract
The diet of six species of Atractaspidinae was studied in 195 specimens collected in Senegal, Mali, Togo, Benin, Niger and Chad. One or several preys were identifiable in the digestive track of 81 specimens, including 34 Atractaspis watsoni, 27 Atractaspis micropholis, 7 Amblyodipsas unicolor, 5 Atractaspis microlepidota, 5 Atractaspis aterrima and 3 Atractaspis dahomeyensis. Reptiles were the most represented prey in A. micropholis, A. aterrima, A. dahomeyensis and A. unicolor, whereas amphibians were the main prey in A. watsoni and A. microlepidota. Rodents and arthropods were poorly represented, with a maximum of 9% of prey for rodents and 6% for arthropods in A. watsoni. Lizard eggs represent an important part (25%) of the diet of A. micropholis.