Qualitative and Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Venoms from Mexican Rattlesnakes

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  Qualitative and Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Venoms from Mexican Rattlesnakes Abstract Despite the vast biodiversity of Mexican vipers, venom of endemic species has been barely studied. Here we analyzed the venom composition of three endemic species of rattlesnakes: Crotalus aquilus , C. triseriatus , and C. ravus . We used quantitative chromato-mass-spectrometry and compared venoms with C. molossus , a species commonly found in North America, in a comparative and phylogenetic framework. In total, we identified 165 proteins grouped in 19 main protein families, consistent with previous reports for viperid venoms. In C. aquilus and C. triseriatus , the most predominant protein-family type was Serine Proteases, and in C. triseriatus and C. molossus it was Snake Venom Metalloproteases. The Label-free quantification revealed a high proportion of Snake Venom Metalloproteases in C. aquilus , C. triseriatus , and C. molossus , reaching 28–47% of the total venom. In contrast, in ...

When the predator becomes the prey: new records of intraguild predation among Central American and Caribbean arachnids (Arachnida: Amblypygi, Araneae, Scorpiones)

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When the predator becomes the prey: new records of intraguild predation among Central American and Caribbean arachnids (Arachnida: Amblypygi, Araneae, Scorpiones)


ABSTRACT


Intraguild predation occurs when an organism preys on a competitor. This ecological interaction can have considerable consequences on the population dynamics of predators and indirectly affect their prey. In arachnids, it is a quite common phenomenon, but it has been poorly documented in the Neotropical region. Here, we present records of 16 species feeding on other 14 species of arachnids. The most common families that acted as predators were Buthidae (Scorpiones) and Salticidae (Araneae), while the most common prey were members of the families Araneidae and Ctenidae (Araneae). In our survey, Drake Bay, in Costa Rica, is overrepresented due to years of systematic observations by two of the coauthors.

Alex M. Cubas-Rodríguez, Darko D. Cotoras, Andrés Taucare‐Ríos, Luis F. de Armas, Antonio D. Brescovit, Gianfranco Gómez & Tracie L. Stice (09 Jul 2024): When the predator becomes the prey: new records of intraguild predation among Central American and Caribbean arachnids (Arachnida: Amblypygi, Araneae, Scorpiones), Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, 
DOI: 10.1080/01650521.2024.2353007