An integrative description of Euscorpius diagorasi sp. n. from Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae)

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  An integrative description of Euscorpius diagorasi sp. n. from Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) Abstract The genus  Euscorpius  Thorell, 1876 comprises a diverse and taxonomically challenging group of scorpions in the Mediterranean, with Greece representing one of its principal centers of diversity. In this study, we provide an integrative description of  Euscorpius diagorasi   sp. n. , a new species from Rhodes Island, Greece. The new species is described on the basis of adult male and female morphology and mitochondrial COI sequence data. It is a small oligotrichous species characterized by a total length of approximately 21–25 mm, pale yellow to light brown coloration with darker reddish-brown pedipalps, pectinal tooth count of 8 in the male and 7 in the females, Pv = 7–8, Pe-et = 5–6, and a distinct mitochondrial lineage. Phylogenetic analyses based on COI recovered the Rhodian specimens as a strongly supported monophyletic lineage, sister to...

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