Systematic revision of the Savignia genus group (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Erigoninae) with notes on their cephalic lobe evolution

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  Systematic revision of the Savignia genus group (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Erigoninae) with notes on their cephalic lobe evolution Abstract The Savignia genus group includes nine morphologically complex yet similar genera where species were assigned based mainly on the cephalic lobes. Among these genera, males of Diplocephalus Bertkau, 1883, Savignia Blackwall, 1833 and Araeoncus Simon, 1884 show some of the most extraordinary cephalic lobes among dwarf spiders (Linyphiidae, Erigoninae). In this study we undertake the first phylogenetic analysis of the Savignia genus group. We use 269 morphological characters (175 newly defined) and 70 taxa (59 ingroup taxa) to reconstruct the relationships and evolutionary trends of cephalic lobes in this lineage. Our findings show that cephalic lobes with varying shapes and sizes appear in several Savignia genus group lineages, highlighting that it is not a good diagnostic character. The high support in several clades allows the redefinition of t...

Latrodectus spp. toxins outside venom glands: past, present and future

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Latrodectus spp. toxins outside venom glands: past, present and future

ABSTRACT

Latrodectus spp. are one of the highly poisonous spiders known in the world. Interestingly, the spiders not only produce and secrete toxins by their venom glands, but also have toxic components in other parts of the adult spiders, and even in the newborn spiderlings and unhatched eggs. The venom and venom toxins secreted by their venom glands have been quite extensively studied and, comparatively, the study on the toxins outside venom glands is limited. Although the toxins outside venom glands were discovered at a very early time, it is not until recently that the molecular basis and mechanism of the toxicity outside venom glands have been relatively systematically investigated, which have significantly expanded our understanding of the spider toxins. This review summarizes the progresses in the research on the Latrodectus spp. particularly black widow spider toxins outside venom glands, with an emphasis on the toxins from the spider eggs.
Wang, X. (2025). Latrodectus spp. Toxins outside venom glands: Past, present and future. Toxicon, 108437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108437