New locality records and future habitat suitability of Sassanidotus gracilis (Birula, 1900) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in the Iran–Afghanistan–Pakistan arid belt

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  New locality records and future habitat suitability of Sassanidotus gracilis (Birula, 1900) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in the Iran–Afghanistan–Pakistan arid belt Abstract This study reports new locality records from Iran and a climate-based habitat suitability assessment for Sassanidotus gracilis (Birula, 1900) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in the Iran–Afghanistan–Pakistan arid belt. We document new specimens from Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran, with an updated distribution map and illustrations, and we model the species' potential distribution across south-eastern Iran and adjacent parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Habitat suitability was associated mainly with precipitation seasonality, precipitation of the wettest month, precipitation of the driest month, and slope. In an arid setting these rainfall variables are unlikely to indicate a need for moist habitat; they more plausibly track seasonal productivity and the terrain features that provide shelter. Present-day suitable areas...

Neurotoxicity Screening of Venom Components from the Philippine Cave Tarantula Orphnaecus kwebaburdeos

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Neurotoxicity Screening of Venom Components from the Philippine Cave Tarantula Orphnaecus kwebaburdeos

Abstract
We report the neurotoxicity of venom components of a cave-dwelling tarantula from the genus Orphnaecus, collected from an island in the eastern part of Luzon, Philippines. The neurotoxicity of the HPLC fractions of the venom extracted from the Philippine tarantula Orphnaecus kwebaburdeos was assessed based on their effects on the swimming behavior of zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae and by observing larval swimming patterns. Our results show that several fractions of the spider venom altered the swimming behavior and patterns of the larvae, indicating that they are neurotoxic. Both paralysis and seizure hyperactivity were observed in larvae exposed to Fractions 2 and 3. Only seizure was observed in zebrafish larvae exposed to Fraction 7. These results suggest that several fractions of the O. kwebaburdeos venom contain neurotoxic components. The observed neurotoxic phenotypes may be caused by the different neurotoxic components which can further be studied.

Guevarra Jr, Leonardo & Ramones, Cydee Marie & Santiago, Myla & Dalmacio, Leslie Michelle. (2025). Neurotoxicity Screening of Venom Components from the Philippine Cave Tarantula Orphnaecus kwebaburdeos. Acta Manilana. 73. 102-112. 10.53603/actamanil.73.2025.usfp7492.