The chromosome-level genome of Mesobuthus martensii provides insights into its evolution and the diversity of venom peptides

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  The chromosome-level genome of Mesobuthus martensii provides insights into its evolution and the diversity of venom peptides Abstract Mesobuthus martensii , the source species of the traditional Chinese medicine “Quanxie”, has long been utilized for its therapeutic properties. Venom peptides are recognized as the major active molecular basis of these pharmacological activities. Despite this, their development as therapeutic agents remains poorly explored. In this study, we performed an integrated multi-omics investigation to systematically explore the venom peptides of Mesobuthus martensii . We generated a chromosome-level genome assembly of Mesobuthus martensii using third-generation sequencing technologies, yielding a genome size of 1.08 Gb with a contig N50 of 46.46 Mb. Integrated genomic and transcriptomic analyses led to the identification of 51 putative novel venom peptide candidates. From the broader venom peptide set, five lysine- and arginine-rich candidates were select...

A new Centruroides species and first record of C. tapachulaensis Hoffmann, 1932 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Honduras

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A new Centruroides species and first record of C. tapachulaensis Hoffmann, 1932 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Honduras

Abstract

A new species of striped bark scorpions, Centruroides lenca sp. n. is described, based on both sexes, from the Pacayita Volcano Biological Reserve (2,385 m a. s. l.), Ocotepeque Department, in the southwestern Honduras. By its general pattern, the new species resembles C. thorellii (Kraepelin, 1891), from which it clearly differs by having stronger and very darker pedipalp chelae, minute subaculear tubercle and basal pectinal plate with a large central pit in the female, among other diagnostic characters. Also, Centruroides tapachulaensis Hoffmann, 1932 is recorded for the first time from Honduras, on the basis of two observed or collected specimens in the Ocotepeque Department. There are currently 12 species of Centruroides known from Honduras, of which three are known only from this Central American country (two other endemic species are C. terueli Armas & Cubas-Rodríguez, 2023, from Guanaja Island, Islas de la Bahía Archipelago, and C. hirsuticauda Teruel, 2011, from Comayagua and Yoro Departments).

de Armas, L. F., & Cubas-Rodríguez, A. M. 2025 . A new Centruroides species and first record of C. tapachulaensis Hoffmann, 1932 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Honduras. Euscorpius, No. 412: 1-12. https://mds.marshall.edu/euscorpius/vol2025/iss412/1/