First insights into the role of evolutionary history in shaping venom composition of Vipera ammodytes

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  First insights into the role of evolutionary history in shaping venom composition of Vipera ammodytes Abstract Understanding intraspecific venom variation requires distinguishing the contributions of neutral population history from natural selection. This study aims to determine whether venom variation in the Vipera ammodytes species complex is structured across eight phylogenetic lineages. Despite a complex evolutionary history, venom composition did not differ among phylogenetic units within the analytical framework used, suggesting that shared ancestry alone does not explain venom variation. Whether local adaptation to environmental conditions explains the observed variation remains an open question for future studies. Lakušić, M., Piccoli, C., Anđelković, M., Andonov, K., Burić, I., Brito, J. C., Dyugmedzhiev, A., Merdan, S., Schmid, L., Tzoras, E., Florian-Hempel, B., & Martínez-Freiría, F. (2026). First insights into the role of evolutionary history in shaping venom co...

New contributions to the genus Harpactea Bristowe, from the Aegean region of Turkey (Araneae: Dysderidae: Harpacteinae)

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New contributions to the genus Harpactea Bristowe, from the Aegean region of Turkey (Araneae: Dysderidae: Harpacteinae)

ABSTRACT

Five new Harpactea species, H. ataturi sp. n. (♂), H. budaki sp. n. (♂♀), H. kesdeki sp. n. (♂♀), H. magnifica sp. n. (♂♀) and H. saki sp. n. (♂♀), are described from the Aegean region of Turkey. The type locality of H. ataturi is İzmir; H. budaki and H. magnifica are from Aydın; H. kesdeki is from Denizli; and H. saki is from Balıkesir. Harpactea kesdeki was recorded only from its type locality and Muğla province, which is also in the Aegean region. The general morphology of the male copulatory organ of H. ataturi resembles that of H. spirembolus, known from the island of Chios, and the female copulatory organ of H. kesdeki resembles that of H. dianae, distributed in Iraklia, one of the Greek islands. The male copulatory organ in H. magnifica resembles that of the Bulgarian endemic species H. konradi. However, the bifurcated median apophysis at the tip of H. magnifica makes it unique. A morphological characteristic of the tegulum of H. saki is also found in H. vagabunda, whose distribution is restricted to Azerbaijan. All new species described in the paper are considered to belong to the rubicunda species group due to the morphological characteristics of the copulatory organs and some other somatic characteristics.

Kunt, K. B., Danışman, T., & Yağmur, E. A. (2026). New contributions to the genus Harpactea Bristowe, from the Aegean region of Turkey (Araneae: Dysderidae: Harpacteinae). Journal of Natural History, 60(9–12), 637–656. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2026.2620575