Evidence of venom variability associated with venom extraction interval in the monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia)

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  Evidence of venom variability associated with venom extraction interval in the monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) Abstract Snake venom variability is a critical factor in antivenom production. Although several influencing factors have been studied, the impact of extraction interval on venom properties remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of various extraction intervals on venom yield, the percentage of dry weight (%Dw), and composition in the monocled cobra ( Naja kaouthia ). Twenty-five captive snakes were randomly allocated to five groups, each undergoing a control extraction followed by a repeated extraction at 1, 4, 7, 10, or 14 days. Venom profiles were characterized using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results indicated that while fresh venom yield remained stable across all intervals, %Dw significantly decreased in extractions performed between 1 and 10 days, ...

A new species of Asceua Thorell, 1887 (Araneae, Zodariidae) from the Western Ghats of India

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A new species of Asceua Thorell, 1887 (Araneae, Zodariidae) from the Western Ghats of India

The genus Asceua Thorell, 1887 represents small to medium sized, ant-eating spiders distributed in Africa, Australia, and East and Southeast Asia (Jocqué 1991; World Spider Catalog 2024). At present, two Asceua species are known from India: Asceua cingulata (Simon, 1905) (male, female), and A. thrippalurensis Sankaran, 2023 (male, female) (Caleb & Sankaran 2024; World Spider Catalog 2024). While examining some recent spider collections from the southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India, we recognized a new Asceua species, which is described and illustrated here as Asceua tertia sp. nov.

Asima, A., Sankaran, P. M. & Prasad, G. (2024). A new species of Asceua Thorell, 1887 (Araneae, Zodariidae) from the Western Ghats of India. Zootaxa 5492(4): 596-599. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5492.4.8