Venom Variation as a Window into the Ecology and Evolution of Snakes

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  Venom Variation as a Window into the Ecology and Evolution of Snakes Abstract Snake venoms are complex biochemical systems that function primarily in prey subjugation and defense, yet their composition varies extensively across individuals, populations, species, and environments. This variation provides a powerful framework for investigating ecological and evolutionary processes. Here, we offer a forward-looking synthesis of snake venom diversity that proposes new research directions and highlights how venom variation can illuminate eco-evolutionary dynamics across biological scales. We review evidence for ten key contexts in which venom variation arises, including within-population differences, sexual dimorphism, geographic structuring, ontogenetic shifts, seasonal changes, interspecific divergence, hybridization, convergent evolution, prey specificity, and venom resistance. Together, these processes demonstrate that venom phenotypes are shaped by interacting selective pressures...

Shelter selection in females of two scorpion species depends on shelter size and scent

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Shelter selection in females of two scorpion species depends on shelter size and scent

Abstract

Shelter selection is an important task in an animal’s life. Concerning scorpions, little is known on the evaluation of potential shelters and the importance of chemosensation. To address these issues, we conducted a two-choice shelter test in rectangular open field arenas to identify properties rendering shelters attractive for female scorpions of the species E. italicus and M. eupeus. Shelters varied in size (large, small) and scent (none, conspecific: male or female, attractive: prey, aversive: rosemary oil). Contact with the shelters was video-recorded under red light for 13 h, including the whole night phase. Results revealed a preference for larger shelters, with conspecific scent having minor or no influence. Striking differences occurred with regard to prey and rosemary oil scents. Prey scent was more attractive to M. eupeus, while rosemary oil did not act as a repellent. E. italicus was not very attracted by prey scent, but was repelled by rosemary oil. These findings might reflect the different habitats, semi-arid vs. Mediterranean climates: prey and rosemary are scarce in the semi-arid climate (habitat of M. eupeus), whereas they are abundant in the Mediterranean climate (habitat of E. italicus). We carried out impairment experiments to identify the main sensory organs responsible for the above observations. These are the pectines and pedipalps which function as mechano- and chemosensors. Scorpions could not detect size nor scent properly when either their pectines or pedipalps were impaired.

Hladik, J., Bailer, Y., Wolf, H. et al. Shelter selection in females of two scorpion species depends on shelter size and scent. J Comp Physiol A (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-024-01721-6