Passive transponder implantation in Theraphosidae: A tool for traceability and conservation

  Passive transponder implantation in Theraphosidae: A tool for traceability and conservation Abstract Illegal wildlife trade represents a major global threat to biodiversity, with tarantulas among the most heavily trafficked invertebrate groups due to increasing demand in the international pet market, highlighting the urgent need for effective regulatory frameworks and reliable specimen-level traceability systems to distinguish legally bred individuals from illegally sourced ones. Individual identification is essential to support legal trade, strengthen enforcement mechanisms and reduce illegal trafficking; therefore, this study evaluated the feasibility and safety of passive integrated transponder microchip (PIT TAG) implantation for individual identification in multiple tarantula species under controlled laboratory conditions. Post-implantation parameters assessed included anaesthesia recovery time, feeding behaviour, ecdysis frequency, PIT TAG retention across successive moults...

Report of giant vinegaroon (Thelyphonida: Thelyphonidae) predation by scorpion (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Mexican tropical dry forest

 


Report of giant vinegaroon (Thelyphonida: Thelyphonidae) predation by scorpion (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Mexican tropical dry forest

Abstract
This study reports the first documented case of predation of an early instar thelyphonid, Mastigoproctus sp., by the scorpion Centruroides elegans in a dry tropical forest in Mexico. The overlap in microhabitats between these two species suggests that their encounters are facilitated by the errant behavior of C. elegans. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the ecological dynamics involving thelyphonids and highlight the vulnerability of juvenile stages to predation, expanding the known predators of these arachnids. 
André F. A. Lira, Oscar G. del-Pozo, Gerardo A. Contreras-Félix, Report of giant vinegaroon (Thelyphonida: Thelyphonidae) predation by scorpion (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Mexican tropical dry forest, Acta Arachnologica, 2025, Volume 74, Issue 2, Pages 123-124, Released on J-STAGE December 11, 2025, Online ISSN 1880-7852, Print ISSN 0001-5202, https://doi.org/10.2476/asjaa.74.123, https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/asjaa/74/2/74_123/_article/-char/en