Herpetological misinformation and sensationalism: media framing on biological and ecological aspects of the golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis)

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  Herpetological misinformation and sensationalism: media framing on biological and ecological aspects of the golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis) Abstract The internet is currently one of the most important means of communication, which may include the circulation of misinformation. Snakes have always been a target of the sensationalist media, being pictured as scary and aggressive animals to be killed indiscriminately by humans. Such fear based on misinformation may compromise species conservation. Here, we address the spread of misinformation about Bothrops insularis and Queimada Grande Island in digital media, highlighting the negative impact on public perception and species conservation. The analysis of 230 online sources revealed that approximately 94% of them contained false information, many using sensationalist language, especially regarding the toxicity of the venom and the population density of the snake, as well as bringing contents that did not align with scientific d...

Biomechanics of venom delivery in South America’s first spitting scorpion

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Biomechanics of venom delivery in South America’s first spitting scorpion 

Abstract | 

Venom is a metabolically expensive secretion used sparingly in a variety of ecological contexts, most notably predation and defense. Accordingly, few animals use their toxins in ranged attacks, and venom-squirting behaviour is only known from select taxa. In scorpions, species belonging to two genera are known to spray venom when threatened, and previous work in Parabuthus transvaalicus shows that venom delivery depends on perceived levels of threat. Here, I describe Tityus (Tityus) XXX sp. nov., a new species of Buthid scorpion from Cundinamarca, Colombia. Remarkably, this species is capable of venom spraying, a first for both the genus and the South American continent. Using frame-by-frame video analysis and ballistic equations, I show that T. XXX sp. nov. employs not one, but two types of airborne attacks with dramatic differences in range and venom expenditure. Further, the new species uses an unusually large reserve of prevenom-like secretion for spraying, as opposed to the costly venom used by other spitting scorpions. In light of these key specializations, I propose that venom spraying convergently evolved in response to different selection pressures, laying the groundwork for future investigation.  


Biomechanics of venom delivery in South America's first spitting scorpion, Leo Laborieux
bioRxiv 2024.07.25.605134; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.25.605134