Venom induced pressure elevation reversible syndrome: a severe pediatric rattlesnake envenomation, evidence for conservative management, and call for naming the syndromeVenom induced pressure elevation reversible syndrome: a severe pediatric rattlesnake envenomation, evidence for conservative management, and call for naming the syndrome

Posted by
  Venom induced pressure elevation reversible syndrome: a severe pediatric rattlesnake envenomation, evidence for conservative management, and call for naming the syndromeVenom induced pressure elevation reversible syndrome: a severe pediatric rattlesnake envenomation, evidence for conservative management, and call for naming the syndrome Abstract Introduction : Rattlesnake envenomation frequently mimics traumatic compartment syndrome, as both are characterized by severe pain, swelling, and elevated compartment pressures. Unlike traumatic compartment syndrome there have been no documented cases of ischemic limb injury after envenomated patients have received antivenom. Furthermore, there is experimental evidence that fasciotomy worsens myonecrosis. This has led medical toxicologists and surgical guidelines to shift from liberally recommending fasciotomy to near universal recommendation of antivenom alone. Despite this, fasciotomies continue to be recommended and performed on rattle...

The tiniest violin: the male of Loxosceles vallenar (Araneae, Sicariidae)

Posted by

 


The tiniest violin: the male of Loxosceles vallenar (Araneae, Sicariidae)

Abstract

In recent years, several endemic species of Loxosceles, violin spiders, have been described from the North-Central Chile biodiversity hotspot, some of which have ambiguous placement within the species groups of the genus. In a recent expedition to the Atacama region, we collected male specimens representing new records of two recently described species: Loxosceles vicentei Taucare-Ríos, Brescovit & Villablanca, 2022 and Loxosceles vallenar Brescovit, Taucare-Ríos, Magalhaes & Santos, 2017 (Araneae, Sicariidae). Males of the latter are hitherto unknown and are here described for the first time. Examination of the morphology of these species revealed characters such as an embolic keel and digitiform median receptacles, which suggest they do not belong in the laeta species group, but rather in the spadicea species group, which is briefly re-diagnosed. With carapace lengths smaller than 2 mm, the newly discovered males of L. vallenar are the tiniest members of the genus. In addition, males of this species bear strong macrosetae in the clypeus, a sexually dimorphic character not previously reported in Loxosceles.

Magalhaes ILF, Iuri HA, Brescovit AD, Pizarro-Araya J (2024) The tiniest violin: the male of Loxosceles vallenar (Araneae, Sicariidae). ZooKeys 1206: 327-342. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1206.122469