Differential Hematotoxic Activity of Southeast Asian Pit Viper Venoms: The Cross-Neutralizing Effect of Available Antivenoms

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  Image Credit: Creative Commons (some rights reserved) CC BY-NC Photo 111998430, (c) Nicholas Hess Differential Hematotoxic Activity of Southeast Asian Pit Viper Venoms: The Cross-Neutralizing Effect of Available Antivenoms Abstract Background/Objectives : Pit vipers (subfamily Crotalinae) are responsible for a large proportion of snakebite envenoming cases in Southeast Asia. Envenomation by these snakes commonly causes hematotoxic effects, including platelet dysfunction and coagulation disturbances. Although antivenom remains the mainstay of treatment, species-specific antivenoms are not available for several regional pit viper species. This study evaluated the hematotoxic activities of selected Southeast Asian pit viper venoms and the cross-neutralizing capacity of commercially available antivenoms.  Methods : Venoms from five medically important pit viper species— Calloselasma rhodostoma ,  Trimeresurus albolabris ,  T. hageni ,  T. purpureomaculatus , ...

A Checklist and Bibliography of Florida Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae)

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A Checklist and Bibliography of Florida Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae)

ABSTRACT 

Spiders (order Araneae) are among the most diverse and ecologically significant groups of arthropods, with over 53,000 described species worldwide. Florida’s unique geographical position makes it a key region for understanding spider diversity in North America. Here we provide the first comprehensive checklist of Florida spiders, integrating historical literature, records from the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA), and more recent fieldwork. Distribution records by county are provided, species known to be adventive or of uncertain origin are indicated, and undescribed species are documented where known. We find a total of 834 species for Florida, though this falls short of the predicted 900+ species based on regional richness and habitat diversity. This discrepancy may be, in part, a result of under-sampling in Florida’s panhandle and limited revisionary work in hyper-diverse families with many undescribed taxa. The checklist also highlights the growing number of exotic species in the state, though most appear confined to synanthropic or disturbed habitats. This foundational checklist lays the groundwork for advancing future research in taxonomy, ecology, biogeography, and conservation.

Edwards GB, Powell EC. 2025. A Checklist and Bibliography of Florida Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae). Occasional Papers of the Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Volume 14: 1–44.https://doi.org/10.64338/fsca.op.14.aur4y.