Transcriptomic Insights Into the Evolution of Snake Venom: Mechanisms, Diversity, and Adaptation

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  Transcriptomic Insights Into the Evolution of Snake Venom: Mechanisms, Diversity, and Adaptation Abstract Snake venoms are evolutionarily refined biochemical arsenals composed of diverse toxins with complex functional roles in predation, defense, and competition. Over the past 2 decades, transcriptomic approaches have transformed venom research by enabling high-resolution insights into gene expression dynamics, molecular diversity, and the evolutionary mechanisms driving venom variation across lineages. In this review, we present a comprehensive synthesis of snake venom transcriptomics literature and propose a conceptual framework structured around three major axes: (1) gene family expansion through duplication and neofunctionalization; (2) regulatory complexity encompassing transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and epigenetic modulation; and (3) ecological selection pressures shaping venom profiles in response to diet, habitat, and interspecific interactions. We integrate findin...

Three new records of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Korea

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Three new records of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Korea

Abstract


Three wolf spiders of the family Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833 are newly described from Korea: Arctosa labiata Tso & Chen, 2004, Pardosa altitudis Tikader & Malhotra, 1980, and Pardosa laevitarsis Tanaka & Suwa, 1986. These spiders were collected during a seasonal survey of the spider fauna of National Parks located in Gangwon-do and Gyeongsanbuk-do in 2018-2019; two males of A. labiata from Mt. Songnisan National Park, one female of P. altitudis from Mt. Chiaksan National Park, and two males of P. laevitarsis from Mt. Odaesan and Sobaeksan National Parks. The three newly recorded spiders have previously been known to be distributed in Taiwan, India, China, and Japan. These spiders were collected by hand in mixed forest leaf litter in mountainous terrains. The present paper taxonomically describes these three wolf spiders with measurements and morphological illustrations.

Jang, C. M., Bae, Y. S., Yoo, J. S., Lee, S. Y. & Kim, S. T. (2023c). Three new records of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Korea. Journal of Species Research 12(3): 224-228. doi:10.12651/JSR.2023.12.3.224