From Taxonomic Accuracy to Toxin Naming: A Welcome Dialogue in Toxicon

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  From Taxonomic Accuracy to Toxin Naming: A Welcome Dialogue in Toxicon By Luis A. Roque | Arácnido Taxonomy When I submitted my correspondence, “When tarantula venom comes from a misnamed spider: The importance of taxonomic accuracy in theraphosid toxinology,” to Toxicon , I hoped it would encourage a broader conversation. The purpose was to draw attention to a problem that benefits from the experience of people working across taxonomy, venom research, and biological databases. Dr. Volker Herzig’s response, “The need for a unified toxin nomenclature for consistent toxin naming,” is precisely the kind of engagement I hoped to see. His contribution acknowledges the importance of identifying venom-source organisms accurately while bringing another essential question into focus: How do we maintain continuity in toxin names when taxonomy and our understanding of toxin function change? Two connected challenges My original correspondence focused on the biological source of venom. In t...

On current distribution of Androctonus aeneas Koch, 1839 in Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

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On current distribution of Androctonus aeneas Koch, 1839 in Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

Abstract

This work concerns a new consideration on the geographical distribution of Androctonus aeneas C.L. Koch, 1839 (Scorpiones) in Algeria. Historically, this species occupied the central band of Algeria, from Tébessa and Khenchela in the east, through Batna in the Belezma mountains, to Naâma in the west. Recent surveys by young researchers have noted an expansion of the range of this scorpion not only in the geographic distribution area predicted for this species by Lourenço et al. (2015) but also towards western Algeria (Aïn Témouchent, Sabdou, El Bayadh and Saïda) and towards the southwest of Algeria in Naâma and Béchar. These new data may enrich the understanding of this potentially dangerous species, but also to the known area of scorpion envenomation risk.

Ait Hammou, M., Dahmani, W., Cheddad, A., El Bouhissi, M., Feghoul, M.A., Benali, N., Boukhours, H., Rebbas, K., Bakel, A., Chelghoum, H., Tahri, D., Boussmaha, C., Nouar, I.E., Ziani, C.S.M.., Khacheb, Z., Megharbi, K. & Sadine, S.E. pp. 257-265., On current distribution of Androctonus aeneas Koch, 1839 in Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket vol. 20(3)