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

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  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 ...

Hidden treasures of the Caribbean: two new genera and one new species of Lesser Antillean ischnocoline spiders (Araneae: Theraphosidae)

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Hidden treasures of the Caribbean: two new genera and one new species of Lesser Antillean ischnocoline spiders (Araneae: Theraphosidae)

Abstract
The new genus Caribothele gen. nov. is described to house its type species Caribothele culebrae (Petrunkevitch, 1929) comb. nov., from Puerto Rico, transferred from Holothele Karsch, 1879. Another new genus, Encantarana gen. nov. is described to house Encantarana hamiltoni gen. et sp. nov. based on both sexes, also from Puerto Rico, and is presently monotypic. Four other species misplaced in Holothele Karsch, 1879 are transferred to Caribothele gen. nov., creating the following new combinations: Caribothele denticu-lata (Franganillo, 1930) comb. nov., Caribothele maddeni (Esposito & Agnarsson, 2014) comb. nov., Caribothele shoemakeri (Petrunkevitch, 1926) comb. nov., and Caribothele sulfurensis (Maréchal, 2005) comb. nov.

Acknowledgement

My deepest and most heartfelt gratitude goes to Danni Sherwood for her generosity in sharing this and other forthcoming publications prior to their official release. Her consistent support and willingness to provide early access to such valuable materials are sincerely appreciated and continue to make a meaningful difference in advancing this work.

Sherwood, D., Gabriel, R., Peñaherrera-R., P., Rollard, C., Leguin, E.-A. & Privet, K. 2025: Hidden treasures of the Caribbean: two new genera and one new species of Lesser Antillean ischnocoline spiders (Araneae: Theraphosidae). - Natura Somogyienis 46: 99-116.