Venom composition of the Iberian adder (Vipera seoanei) from northern Portugal reveals limited sex and size variation

Posted by
  Venom composition of the Iberian adder (Vipera seoanei) from northern Portugal reveals limited sex and size variation Abstract Snake venom is a complex and dynamic ecological trait, with high potential for intraspecific variation. In this study, the venom composition of the Iberian adder ( Vipera seoanei ) from the Peneda Mountains of northern Portugal was investigated to explore whether venom varies with body size and sex. Venom proteomes from six individuals representing juvenile, subadult, and adult males and females were characterised using LC–MS/MS, while individual variation was assessed from SDS–PAGE profiles of 18 snakes. LC–MS/MS identified 144 proteins, dominated by phospholipases A 2 (PLA 2 ), snake venom serine proteases (svSP), and C-type lectin-related proteins (CTL). Descriptive comparisons revealed contrasting individual profiles, particularly between the juvenile male, characterised by high svSP and svMP abundance, and the juvenile female, characterised by high ...

Diversity of Spiders (Arachnida Araneae) with a new record for India in and around Bidhannagar College campus, Salt Lake: part of a reclaimed urban habitat

Posted by

Diversity of Spiders (Arachnida Araneae) with a new record for India in and around Bidhannagar College campus, Salt Lake: part of a reclaimed urban habitat

ABSTRACT

Spider diversity was recorded from the Bidhannagar College campus and surrounding areas, a relatively new habitat located in a densely populated Salt Lake city near Kolkata that was developed on reclaimed land from East Kolkata Wetlands (India). A total of 35 species of spiders belonging to 26 genera and 13 families were observed. The most significant finding was the documentation of Pronophaea natalica (Simon, 1897), a species previously known only from South Africa, which is now reported for the first time from India. The family Salticidae emerged as the most diverse, comprising 10 species across 7 genera. This was followed by Araneidae, represented by 6 species from 4 genera. The spider assemblage represents a range of ecological guilds and behavioural strategies, indicating a healthy arthropod diversity in this urban green space. The guild structure analysis of the recorded spider assemblage revealed seven functional feeding guilds. Among these, stalkers were the most dominant with 10 species, followed by orb web weavers with 9 species, and ambushers and ground hunters with 5 species each. Less represented guilds included foliage runners with 1 species, scattered line weavers with 2 species, and space web builders with 2 species. Trees and bush foliages were the most preferred habitat for orb web weavers and stalkers. This finding underscores the need for biodiversity monitoring and conservation in rapidly urbanizing landscapes.


Arka Kumar Akuli, Shuvadeep Sen, Reaz Mondal & Somnath Mandal
Diversity of Spiders (Arachnida Araneae) with a new record for India in and around Bidhannagar College campus, Salt Lake: part of a reclaimed urban habitat
https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2025.16.3.541.551