The chromosome-level genome of Mesobuthus martensii provides insights into its evolution and the diversity of venom peptides

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  The chromosome-level genome of Mesobuthus martensii provides insights into its evolution and the diversity of venom peptides Abstract Mesobuthus martensii , the source species of the traditional Chinese medicine “Quanxie”, has long been utilized for its therapeutic properties. Venom peptides are recognized as the major active molecular basis of these pharmacological activities. Despite this, their development as therapeutic agents remains poorly explored. In this study, we performed an integrated multi-omics investigation to systematically explore the venom peptides of Mesobuthus martensii . We generated a chromosome-level genome assembly of Mesobuthus martensii using third-generation sequencing technologies, yielding a genome size of 1.08 Gb with a contig N50 of 46.46 Mb. Integrated genomic and transcriptomic analyses led to the identification of 51 putative novel venom peptide candidates. From the broader venom peptide set, five lysine- and arginine-rich candidates were select...

Tree-dwelling wolves: a new arboreal Hogna species (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Taiwan

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 Tree-dwelling wolves: a new arboreal Hogna species (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Taiwan

Abstract 


Hogna Simon, 1885 is one of the most diverse genera of wolf spiders, with species that are almost exclusively grounddwellers. A recent discovery of a tree-hole-living species in Taiwan was therefore surprising. Here, we describe Hogna arborea sp. nov. using a combination of morphological and molecular taxonomic evidence. We also discuss the arboreal lifestyle of this new species and emphasize the need for more detailed ecological research to assess its conservation status.


Lo, Y. Y., Wei, C. & Cheng, R. C. (2023). Tree-dwelling wolves: a new arboreal Hogna species (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Taiwan. Zootaxa 5353(1): 47-59. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5353.1.2