Venom composition of the Iberian adder (Vipera seoanei) from northern Portugal reveals limited sex and size variation

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  Venom composition of the Iberian adder (Vipera seoanei) from northern Portugal reveals limited sex and size variation Abstract Snake venom is a complex and dynamic ecological trait, with high potential for intraspecific variation. In this study, the venom composition of the Iberian adder ( Vipera seoanei ) from the Peneda Mountains of northern Portugal was investigated to explore whether venom varies with body size and sex. Venom proteomes from six individuals representing juvenile, subadult, and adult males and females were characterised using LC–MS/MS, while individual variation was assessed from SDS–PAGE profiles of 18 snakes. LC–MS/MS identified 144 proteins, dominated by phospholipases A 2 (PLA 2 ), snake venom serine proteases (svSP), and C-type lectin-related proteins (CTL). Descriptive comparisons revealed contrasting individual profiles, particularly between the juvenile male, characterised by high svSP and svMP abundance, and the juvenile female, characterised by high ...

The diversity and distribution of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in the Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University Campus, Nanded, Maharashtra, India

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The diversity and distribution of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in the Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University Campus, Nanded, Maharashtra, India

Abstract
Spiders are one of the key species of the terrestrial ecosystems. The present investigation describes the diversity and distributional patterns of spider fauna within the Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University Campus region of the Nanded district, Maharashtra, India. From the 12 different families, 21 species of spider were identified. The most common taxa in the research region were Araneidae and Lycosidae, which also showed the highest levels of taxonomic diversity and the distribution of species was significantly impacted by habitat heterogeneity; ground-dwelling species were more common in grassland habitats, but web-building and leaping spiders were more common in shrub, garden, and human-modified environments. Several ecologically significant taxa, including Neoscona species, Pardosa pseudoannulata, and Oxyopes javanus, which are recognised natural adversaries of agricultural insect pests, are included in the documented assemblage. During the monsoon season diversity of spiders was high (19 species; 90.5%), followed by winter (15 species; 71.4%) and summer (13 species; 61.9%). Spider communities in the studied area are significantly influenced by seasonal climatic circumstances. Through establishing a crucial baseline to guide future conservation tactics and ecological management frameworks, this study offers a more thorough understanding of the regional arachnid biodiversity.

Jadhav, Mahesh. (2026). The diversity and distribution of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in the Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University Campus, Nanded, Maharashtra, India. International Journal of Entomology Research. 11. 233-238.