Beyond Venom and Constriction: Bite Performance and Trophic Ecology in the Genus Drymarchon

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  Beyond Venom and Constriction: Bite Performance and Trophic Ecology in the Genus Drymarchon Abstract Snakes exhibit extreme cranial kinesis that facilitates ingestion of prey with large cross-sectional area, but this ability is widely predicted to reduce bite performance due to decreased structural rigidity. Consequently, most large-bodied snakes rely on envenomation or constriction to subdue prey prior to ingestion. Species within the genus Drymarchon represent a notable exception: these large, non-venomous, non-constricting snakes routinely consume a wide range of prey, including large and potentially dangerous vertebrates, using only simple seizing and pinioning behaviors. Here, we quantify bite performance in three species of Drymarchon ( D. corais, D. couperi, and D. melanurus ), examine morphological predictors of biting performance, compare biting pressure to constriction pressure in similarly sized snakes, and synthesize dietary records across the genus. Our results sh...

Updated distribution of Zoropsis spinimana (Dufour, 1820; Araneae: Zoropsidae) in Germany and novel insights into its ecology based on a citizen science survey

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Updated distribution of Zoropsis spinimana (Dufour, 1820; Araneae: Zoropsidae) in Germany and novel insights into its ecology based on a citizen science survey

Abstract

In Germany, Zoropsis spinimana (Dufour, 1820) is an introduced, likely synanthropic spider species. Here, we report the results of a nationwide mapping appeal conducted by the citizen science platform NABU-naturgucker.de, used to assemble live distributional data for the species in Germany. With the help of media interest in this species, we gathered a valuable dataset and a large image gallery of the species. In just five weeks, we received more than 15,000 records, representing a 2.3-fold increase in occupied territory compared to previous knowledge. By analyzing the data in detail, we obtained novel insights into the ecology and eco-geography of Z. spinimana in Germany, including information on prey, coloration, potential predators, altitudinal distribution and temporal appearance, along with two cases of accidental human translocation.

Wirth, A. (2024). Updated distribution of Zoropsis spinimana (Dufour, 1820; Araneae: Zoropsidae) in Germany and novel insights into its ecology based on a citizen science survey. Frontiers in Arachnid Science, 3, 1383339. https://doi.org/10.3389/frchs.2024.1383339