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

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  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 ...

Five new species of Heteropoda Latreille, 1804 spiders (Araneae: Sparassidae) from Southeast Asia

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Five new species of Heteropoda Latreille, 1804 spiders (Araneae: Sparassidae) from Southeast Asia

Abstract

Five new species of Heteropoda (Araneae: Sparassidae, Heteropodinae) from Southeast Asia are described: H. acris spec. nov. (male, female; Vietnam), H. cuspidata spec. nov. (male; Malaysia), H. papilionacea spec. nov. (female; Malaysia), H. pilata spec. nov. (female; Thailand), and H. verticalis spec. nov. (male; Malaysia). The female of H. jasminae Jäger, 2008 is described for the first time (locality: Vietnam). All these new species are diagnosed, described, and illustrated. Additionally, a distribution map for all species is given.


Korai, S. K. & Jäger, P. (2024). Five new species of Heteropoda Latreille, 1804 spiders (Araneae: Sparassidae) from Southeast Asia. Zootaxa 5481(2): 241-259. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5481.2.4