Cicileus derradji sp. nov., a new species from southern Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

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  Cicileus derradji sp. nov., a new species from southern Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae) Abstract A new scorpion species, Cicileus derradji sp. nov., is described from Tin Zaouatine District, In Guezzam Province, southern Algeria. The description is based on an adult male holotype, an adult female paratype and a juvenile specimen, and is supported by detailed morphological analyses, including colouration, morphometrics, carination patterns and trichobothrial arrangement. This discovery extends the known distribution of the genus Cicileus approximately 500 km southwestward within Algeria. With the addition of this species, the number of recognised species in the genus increases to six. The new species is compared with all previously known species of Cicileus , and detailed colour photographs, including images taken under ultraviolet illumination, are provided. Derradj, L., Aydın Yağmur, E., Benali, N., & Bikada, M. (2026). Cicileus derradji sp. nov., a new species from south...

Should snakes used in antivenom production be retired? An analysis of Bothrops moojeni venom at different ages

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By (Greg Hume) - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12164448

Should snakes used in antivenom production be retired? An analysis of Bothrops moojeni venom at different ages

ABSTRACT

Accidents involving venomous snakes in Brazil are mostly caused by the Bothrops genus. Snake venoms, just like Bothrops moojeni venom, one of the snake species used to produce the antibotropic serum, may have variations in its venom due to many factors like age, which could be analyzed due to the excellent maintenance of the Butantan Institute's vivarium. Therefore, analyzing the influence of senility on the venom profile is important in order to understand and guarantee the efficacy of the antibotropic serum. To this end, pools of Bothrops moojeni were used to better understand this variation, with females and males, adults and seniles. The results showed a variation between the adult and senile groups, where the adult groups have a higher proteolytic activity, while the senile groups have a higher coagulant and hemolytic activity. In relation to the immuno-recognition tests carried out, the senile groups were less recognized than the adults, an important result to guide more assertive treatment if necessary. Consequently, the venom of Bothrops moojeni varies according to senility, highlighting the importance of this study not only for this species, but for others that may also have this variation.
Moitas, M., Reis, G., Lima, E., Tavares, M., Tasima, L., Silveira, G., Grego, K., & Tanaka-Azevedo, A. (2025). Should snakes used in antivenom production be retired? An analysis of Bothrops moojeni venom at different ages. Toxicon, 108624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108624