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

Posted by
  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 , ...

Ghost sighting: first Southeast Asian record of the ghost spider family Anyphaenidae, describing a new Rathalos species from Java, Indonesia

Posted by

 


Ghost sighting: first Southeast Asian record of the ghost spider family Anyphaenidae, describing a new Rathalos species from Java, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

A new species of bamboo-associated ghost spider, Rathalos inagami Dhiya’ulhaq & Dwikelana sp. nov., is described from Java, Indonesia, based on male and female specimens. The species is diagnosed by distinct genitalic characters, including a four-lobed median apophysis in males and a wide triangular epigynal plate with strongly S-shaped copulatory ducts in females. This constitutes the first record of the family Anyphaenidae and the genus Rathalos from Southeast Asia, thereby extending the known distribution of the group.