First chance to see: New jumping-spider species from Batanta, Indonesia (Araneae, Salticidae, Euophryini)

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  First chance to see: New jumping-spider species from Batanta, Indonesia (Araneae, Salticidae, Euophryini) Abstract The first spider records of Batanta, Birie, and Arefi islands, Raja Ampat, Indonesia are presented in this study. Three new species in the genus Canama Simon, 1903, Canama horobi sp. nov . (male), Canama limagigi sp. nov . (male) and Canama wanita sp. nov . (female) are described. Two Indonesian salticids, originally placed in Bathippus Thorell, 1892 and known from their original descriptions only, Bathippus dentiferellus Strand, 1911 and Bathippus seltuttensis Strand, 1911, are redescribed and illustrated. Due to their morphological similarity to the type species, three new combinations have been proposed: Canama dentiferellus (Strand, 1911), comb. nov ., Canama seltuttensis (Strand, 1911), comb. nov . and Canama dilanians (Thorell, 1881), comb. nov . To confirm the phylogenetic placement of the new species, we carried out a small phylogenetic anal...

Venom gland transcriptomics of the Black Judaicus scorpion (Hottentotta judaicus) reveals its toxin arsenal and potential bioeconomic value

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Venom gland transcriptomics of the Black Judaicus scorpion (Hottentotta judaicus) reveals its toxin arsenal and potential bioeconomic value

Abstract

Scorpion venoms are likewise a medical burden as well as a source of novel bioresources. Despite their important dual role, the venoms of most scorpion species remain under- or unstudied. Among these is the venom of the Black Judaicus scorpion, Hottentotta judaicus (Simon, 1872), a common yet neglected species native to the Middle East. Here, we employ venom gland transcriptomics to investigate its toxin-encoding precursor profile to gain insight into its toxin repertoire. The venom was found to be composed primarily of various short scorpion toxins, long scorpion toxins from the 3 C-C as well as the 4 C-C type, and enzymatic components. Minor components include, defensins and putative antimicrobial peptides. Several identified toxins show similarity to known neurotoxins from lethal buthids or to toxins with translational value in biomedicine, agriculture, and industrial production, thus rendering H. judaicus both, a potential health concern but possibly also as source of novel bioresources. Our work provides an extended perspective on the venom profile of this species and represents a basis for future follow-up studies.
Lüddecke, T., Dresler, J., Hurka, S., Wang, Y., Pohler, T., Simone, Y., Krämer, J., Vilcinskas, A., & Herzig, V. (2025). Venom gland transcriptomics of the Black Judaicus scorpion (Hottentotta judaicus) reveals its toxin arsenal and potential bioeconomic value. Toxicon, 108609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108609