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 data on spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, with new species and records

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New data on spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, with new species and records

Abstract

Based on several small collections, new taxonomic and faunistic data on spiders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Lebanon are presented. Six species are described as new to science: Dorceus saif Szűts & Zamani, sp. nov. (♂; Saudi Arabia), Loureedia melanconi Szűts & Zamani, sp. nov. (♂; Saudi Arabia) (both Eresidae), Leptopilos hajarensis Zamani & Marusik, sp. nov. (♀; UAE), Synaphosus dulcicola Zamani & Marusik, sp. nov. (♀; UAE) (both Gnaphosidae), Arctosa formosa Zamani & Marusik, sp. nov. (♂♀; UAE) (Lycosidae), and Prodidomus emiratus Zamani & Marusik, sp. nov. (♀; UAE) (Prodidomidae). In addition, the previously unknown male of Trichothyse golan (Levy, 1999) (Gnaphosidae) is illustrated and described. Finally, one new family record, 16 new generic records and 22 new species records are documented, and the previous record of Sahastata infuscata (Kulczyński, 1901) (Filistatidae) from Yemen is rejected.

Zamani A, Marusik YM, Sharaf MR, Al Ketbi K, Szűts T (2026) New data on spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, with new species and records. ZooKeys 1276: 95-124. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1276.186138