When Tarantula Venom Comes from a Misnamed Spider: The Importance of Taxonomic Accuracy in Theraphosid Toxinology

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  When Tarantula Venom Comes from a Misnamed Spider: The Importance of Taxonomic Accuracy in Theraphosid Toxinology I am very happy to share my most recent publication in Toxicon. This is a particularly meaningful publication for me because it brings together two areas that have become an important part of my work and personal interests: tarantulas and toxinology. At first glance, taxonomy and venom research may seem like two very different fields. In reality, they are closely connected. Before we can properly study the venom of a spider, we need to know which spider we are actually studying. Why the Name Matters A scientific name is much more than a label attached to an animal. It connects that animal to everything we report about it, including its biology, distribution, behavior, venom, toxins, and even its potential medical importance. When a tarantula is incorrectly identified, or when an outdated name continues to be used without considering changes in taxonomy, the problem ca...

Rolando Teruel (1974-2023)

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Rolando Teruel (1974-2023)

Ph. D. Senior Researcher at Grupo de Sistemática y Ecología de Artrópodos Caribeños
Havana, Cuba


This morning, I was saddened to find out that Rolando Teruel lost his battle with cancer. Over the course of the last few years, Rolando and I would communicate regularly. First, through my group when it was on Facebook, and later, simply by email. Rolando knew I had institutional access to journal libraries and other repositories, so I always offered to make any references he needed available. 

It's hard to explain how deeply saddened this news has made me, considering that I never had the distinct pleasure of having ever met him in person. I firmly believe that part of my relationship with him stems from his being a Cuban native, as I am also Cuban-American, as both of my parents emigrated from Cuba in the 1960s. We briefly shared some of this information by mail once and that opened the door to a friendship between him and me.

To all of you in the scientific community who knew him and had the pleasure of working with him, you have my deepest condolences. If this blog makes it to those in his family, I would also like to express my deepest condolences. His friendship, humility, and work ethic as well as his commitment to the sciences will be deeply missed. 

Rest in peace, my friend. 

Jan Ove Rein shares his story and condolences for Rolando, here on his blog, "The Scorpion Files" http://scorpion-files.blogspot.com/2023/08/rolando-teruel-1974-2023-rip.html

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Esta mañana me entristeció saber que Rolando Teruel perdió su batalla contra el cáncer. En el transcurso de los últimos años, Rolando y yo nos comunicábamos regularmente, primero a través de mi grupo cuando estaba en Facebook, y luego, simplemente por correo electrónico. Rolando sabía que yo tenía acceso institucional a bibliotecas de revistas y otros repositorios, por lo que siempre me ofrecí a poner a su disposición las referencias que necesitara.

Es difícil explicar cuán profundamente me entristece esta noticia, considerando que nunca tuve el placer de haberlo conocido en persona. Creo firmemente que parte de mi relación con él se debe a que es nativo de Cuba, ya que yo también soy cubano-americano, ya que mis padres emigraron de Cuba en la década de 1960's. Una vez compartimos brevemente parte de esta información por correo y eso abrió la puerta a una amistad entre él y yo.

A todos los miembros de la comunidad científica que lo conocieron y tuvieron el placer de trabajar con él, mi más sentido pésame. Si este blog llega a los miembros de su familia, también me gustaría expresar mi más sentido pésame. Extrañaremos profundamente su amistad, humildad y ética de trabajo, así como su compromiso con las ciencias.

Descansa en paz amigo mío.

Jan Ove Rein shares his story and condolences for Rolando, here on his blog, "The Scorpion Files" http://scorpion-files.blogspot.com/2023/08/rolando-teruel-1974-2023-rip.html