Differential Hematotoxic Activity of Southeast Asian Pit Viper Venoms: The Cross-Neutralizing Effect of Available Antivenoms

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  Image Credit: Creative Commons (some rights reserved) CC BY-NC Photo 111998430, (c) Nicholas Hess Differential Hematotoxic Activity of Southeast Asian Pit Viper Venoms: The Cross-Neutralizing Effect of Available Antivenoms Abstract Background/Objectives : Pit vipers (subfamily Crotalinae) are responsible for a large proportion of snakebite envenoming cases in Southeast Asia. Envenomation by these snakes commonly causes hematotoxic effects, including platelet dysfunction and coagulation disturbances. Although antivenom remains the mainstay of treatment, species-specific antivenoms are not available for several regional pit viper species. This study evaluated the hematotoxic activities of selected Southeast Asian pit viper venoms and the cross-neutralizing capacity of commercially available antivenoms.  Methods : Venoms from five medically important pit viper species— Calloselasma rhodostoma ,  Trimeresurus albolabris ,  T. hageni ,  T. purpureomaculatus , ...

Desiccation resistance of the spider Sicarius thomisoides (Walckenaer, 1847) (Araneae: Sicariidae) to different temperatures

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Desiccation resistance of the spider Sicarius thomisoides (Walckenaer, 1847) (Araneae: Sicariidae) to different temperatures

Abstract

Desert spiders generally are tolerant or resistant to desiccation, as they must develop strategies to live in high temperatures and prevent continued water loss. However, in extreme conditions, as the temperature increases, their metabolism increases, so they could lose water as the temperature rises. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of temperature on water loss in the spider Sicarius thomisoides. Spiders were subjected to different temperatures: 20 °C, 30 °C and 40 °C. Our results indicate that this spider has excellent resistance to desiccation, since, on average of the three temperatures, losing only 77.25 ± 3.14% of the initial weight at 40 °C, being able to resist extremely high temperatures. In addition, we could not determine a significant effect of body size. Water loss was similar among individuals of different stage of development.

Berríos, C., Martínez, M., & Taucare‐Ríos, A. (2026). Desiccation resistance of the spider <em>Sicarius thomisoides</em> (Walckenaer, 1847) (Araneae: Sicariidae) to different temperatures. Revista Chilena De Entomología, 52(1), 51–58. Retrieved from https://www.biotaxa.org/rce/article/view/88431