When Tarantula Venom Comes from a Misnamed Spider: The Importance of Taxonomic Accuracy in Theraphosid Toxinology

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  When Tarantula Venom Comes from a Misnamed Spider: The Importance of Taxonomic Accuracy in Theraphosid Toxinology I am very happy to share my most recent publication in Toxicon. This is a particularly meaningful publication for me because it brings together two areas that have become an important part of my work and personal interests: tarantulas and toxinology. At first glance, taxonomy and venom research may seem like two very different fields. In reality, they are closely connected. Before we can properly study the venom of a spider, we need to know which spider we are actually studying. Why the Name Matters A scientific name is much more than a label attached to an animal. It connects that animal to everything we report about it, including its biology, distribution, behavior, venom, toxins, and even its potential medical importance. When a tarantula is incorrectly identified, or when an outdated name continues to be used without considering changes in taxonomy, the problem ca...

The mitochondrial genome of Palpimanus capensis Simon, 1893 (Araneae, Palpimanidae) from ultraconserved elements (UCEs)

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The mitochondrial genome of Palpimanus capensis Simon, 1893 (Araneae, Palpimanidae) from ultraconserved elements (UCEs)

Abstract

The mitochondrial genome of Palpimanus capensis Simon, 1893 has been sequenced and annotated from ultraconserved elements (UCEs). The species is endemic to South Africa and is a free-living ground-dweller. Contigs were assembled in SPAdes, with a rough draft mitogenome extracted from the resulting contigs that was used as the seed for de novo assembly by NOVOPlasty for the final, circularized genome. The mitogenome was annotated using MITOS2 and by comparing it to other species in the order Araneae. The mitogenome is 14,268 bp, including 22 transfer RNA (tRNA), 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and a control region. This is the first species in the genus Palpimanus and the family Palpimanidae with a sequenced and annotated mitochondrial genome.

Merrill, C. M., Patrick, L. B., Wood, H. M., & Santos, S. R. (2025). The mitochondrial genome of Palpimanus capensis Simon, 1893 (Araneae, Palpimanidae) from ultraconserved elements (UCEs). Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 10(12), 1221–1225. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2025.2594315