New widow spider record of Latrodectus dahli Levi (Araneae: Theridiidae) extends known range in Northern Saudi Arabia

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  Image Credit: iNaturalist Photo 400937400, (c) Kian, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kian, https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/400937400 New widow spider record of Latrodectus dahli Levi (Araneae: Theridiidae) extends known range in Northern Saudi Arabia ABSTRACT Researchers have documented the first confirmed occurrence of Dahl’s widow spider ( Latrodectus dahli vn Saudi Arabia’s Ha’il Region, extending the species’ known range into the country’s north. The finding fills an important gap in the spider’s Middle Eastern distribution and highlights how even medically important species remain under-documented in parts of the Arabian Peninsula. L. dahli Levi is a medically significant widow spider that is found in North Africa, Cyprus, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Middle East, Iran and Central Asia. Prior to our work, there had been no records of it in northern Saudi Arabia although it had been found in central regions of Saudi Arabia such as Al Duwadimi, Riyadh and ...

Proteomic and biochemical characterization of Bothrops pubescens (Serpentes: Viperidae) venom

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Proteomic and biochemical characterization of Bothrops pubescens (Serpentes: Viperidae) venom

ABSTRACT

Bothrops pubescens is a clinically significant viperid snake species in Uruguay, accounting for over 60 cases of human envenomation annually, alongside Bothrops alternatus. Formerly classified within the Bothrops neuwiedi complex, recent taxonomic revisions now restrict its distribution to Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and Uruguay. This species is not very robust, with a body length ranging from 22 to 92 cm and displays a distinctive dorsolateral pattern consisting of dark brown trapezoidal blotches on each side.
The venom of B. pubescens exhibits toxicological properties typical of the Bothrops genus, including coagulopathy and severe local tissue damage, which may result in limb amputation in extreme cases. As in other Bothrops species, metalloproteinases are the most abundant toxins, accompanied by high levels of phospholipase A2, serine proteases, L-amino acid oxidases, and C-type lectins. Minor venom components include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), hyaluronidases, and cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs).
Recent studies suggest that B. pubescens and B. diporus share a common evolutionary lineage and display highly similar venom compositions. In our study, biochemical and proteomic analyses revealed a venom profile in Uruguayan B. pubescens closely resembling that of B. diporus from Argentina yet differing slightly from B. pubescens specimens in Brazil.
Berasain, P., Pinto, A., Zelanis, A., Cúparo, M., Baletta, S., Carreira, S., Staats, C., Termignoni, C., Diedrich, J. K., Yates III, J., & Morais, V. (2025). Proteomic and biochemical characterization of Bothrops pubescens (Serpentes: Viperidae) venom. Toxicon, 108953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108953