Venom Variation as a Window into the Ecology and Evolution of Snakes

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  Venom Variation as a Window into the Ecology and Evolution of Snakes Abstract Snake venoms are complex biochemical systems that function primarily in prey subjugation and defense, yet their composition varies extensively across individuals, populations, species, and environments. This variation provides a powerful framework for investigating ecological and evolutionary processes. Here, we offer a forward-looking synthesis of snake venom diversity that proposes new research directions and highlights how venom variation can illuminate eco-evolutionary dynamics across biological scales. We review evidence for ten key contexts in which venom variation arises, including within-population differences, sexual dimorphism, geographic structuring, ontogenetic shifts, seasonal changes, interspecific divergence, hybridization, convergent evolution, prey specificity, and venom resistance. Together, these processes demonstrate that venom phenotypes are shaped by interacting selective pressures...

The first occurrence records of Kukulcania hibernalis (Hentz, 1842) from Ascension Island and Saint Barthélemy (Araneae: Filistatidae)

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The first occurrence records of Kukulcania hibernalis (Hentz, 1842) from Ascension Island and Saint Barthélemy (Araneae: Filistatidae)

Abstract

The Southern House Spider Kukulcania hibernalis (Hentz, 1842), native to coastal eastern Mexico and the eastern United States, is widely distributed in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and has been recorded from Liberia and the Canary Islands. Recent examination of material from Ascension Island and Saint Barthélemy newly confirm its presence as a non-native species on these islands. Kukulcania hibernalis is synanthropic, which has presumably allowed it to colonise many non-indigenous countries. In addition to reporting the new localities, we map the updated global distribution of K. hibernalis.

Sherwood, Danniella & Sharp, Adam. (2023). The first occurrence records of Kukulcania hibernalis (Hentz, 1842) from Ascension Island and Saint Barthélemy (Araneae: Filistatidae). Opuscula Zoologica. 205-209. 10.18348/opzool.2023.9.205. Danniella Sherwood via ResearchGate