Venom composition of the Iberian adder (Vipera seoanei) from northern Portugal reveals limited sex and size variation

Posted by
  Venom composition of the Iberian adder (Vipera seoanei) from northern Portugal reveals limited sex and size variation Abstract Snake venom is a complex and dynamic ecological trait, with high potential for intraspecific variation. In this study, the venom composition of the Iberian adder ( Vipera seoanei ) from the Peneda Mountains of northern Portugal was investigated to explore whether venom varies with body size and sex. Venom proteomes from six individuals representing juvenile, subadult, and adult males and females were characterised using LC–MS/MS, while individual variation was assessed from SDS–PAGE profiles of 18 snakes. LC–MS/MS identified 144 proteins, dominated by phospholipases A 2 (PLA 2 ), snake venom serine proteases (svSP), and C-type lectin-related proteins (CTL). Descriptive comparisons revealed contrasting individual profiles, particularly between the juvenile male, characterised by high svSP and svMP abundance, and the juvenile female, characterised by high ...

A new genus of lyrate curtain-web spiders (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Dipluridae) from southeastern Brazil, with two new species and revalidation of a formerly described species

Posted by

 


A new genus of lyrate curtain-web spiders (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Dipluridae) from southeastern Brazil, with two new species and revalidation of a formerly described species

    

Abstract 


A new Brazilian genus of curtain-web spiders, family Dipluridae Simon, 1889, Harpathele gen. nov., is described, with Harpathele gymnognatha comb. nov. (Bertkau, 1880) (Rio de Janeiro state) as its type species. The new genus is a lyrate Diplurinae and it is known only from southeast Brazil. It may be recognized by the relatively small body, maxilla with dorsal transverse suture showing distinct curve at its basal third, a field of numerous long and thin setae above that suture, and a field of small rigid bristles below it, among other characters. Harpathele gymnognatha comb. nov. (Bertkau, 1880) is revalidated and redescribed, with the designation of a neotype and the first description of a male, based on specimens collected in its type locality that match the original description and illustrations, and is pointed as senior synonym of Diplura annectens (Bertkau, 1880). Additionally, two species of the new genus are described: Harpathele cariacica sp. nov., based on females from Espírito Santo state, and Harpathele salinas sp. nov., based on males from Rio de Janeiro state. 


Wermelinger-Moreira, G., Pedroso, D. R., Castanheira, P. de S. & Baptista, R. L. C. (2024). A new genus of lyrate curtain-web spiders (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Dipluridae) from southeastern Brazil, with two new species and revalidation of a formerly described species. Arachnology 19(8): 1060-1073.