Evidence of venom variability associated with venom extraction interval in the monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia)

Posted by
  Evidence of venom variability associated with venom extraction interval in the monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) Abstract Snake venom variability is a critical factor in antivenom production. Although several influencing factors have been studied, the impact of extraction interval on venom properties remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of various extraction intervals on venom yield, the percentage of dry weight (%Dw), and composition in the monocled cobra ( Naja kaouthia ). Twenty-five captive snakes were randomly allocated to five groups, each undergoing a control extraction followed by a repeated extraction at 1, 4, 7, 10, or 14 days. Venom profiles were characterized using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results indicated that while fresh venom yield remained stable across all intervals, %Dw significantly decreased in extractions performed between 1 and 10 days, ...

Description of the adult male Scorpiops tongtongi Tang, 2022, with further comments on the genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 in China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae)

Posted by

 


Description of the adult male Scorpiops tongtongi Tang, 2022, with further comments on the genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 in China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae)


Abstract


Adult male Scorpiops tongtongi Tang, 2022 is described based on recently collected specimens, which revealed a strong sexual dimorphism in the pedipalp finger lobe of this species (present in males, absent in females), lending more support to the separation from its geographic neighbors, S. jendeki Kovařík, 1994, S. shidian (Qi et al., 2005), S. zhangshuyuani Ythier, 2019, and S. beccaloniae (Kovařík, 2005). The morphological studies of Chinese Scorpiops are further discussed. A refined mensurational method of Scorpiops pedipalp chela is proposed. Morphological comparisons of both quantitative and qualitative characters for all Scorpiops from Yunnan are provided, along with a dichotomous key to those species.