ECOLOGICAL NICHE MODELS BY TITYUS SERRULATUS LUTZ & MELLO, 1922 AND TITYUS STIGMURUS (THORELL, 1876) (ARACHNIDA: SCORPIONES)

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  ECOLOGICAL NICHE MODELS BY TITYUS SERRULATUS LUTZ & MELLO, 1922 AND TITYUS STIGMURUS (THORELL, 1876) (ARACHNIDA: SCORPIONES) Summary Scorpions are venomous animals with high plasticity and can serve as models for biogeographical, natural history, and evolutionary studies. Ecological niche modeling can help in understanding essential characteristics of the geographic distribution of species, as well as allowing the prediction of future distribution patterns. Our objective was to model the ecological niche of the scorpion species *Tityus serrulatus * and *Tityus stigmurus* , as well as to identify the variables that influence their distribution in different biomes and their range limits in the Amazon, Caatinga, and Cerrado biomes. Data were obtained from 12 Brazilian arachnological collections. Bioclimatic variables were obtained from the WorldClim database, and niche modeling was implemented using the Maximum Entropy algorithm. The results showed that the Atlantic Forest bio...

Snakebite epidemiology in the State of Mexico, Mexico 2003-2024

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Snakebite epidemiology in the State of Mexico, Mexico 2003-2024

Abstract

In the State of Mexico, several venomous snakes have low median lethal doses, which therefore pose serious health risks. We analyzed the epidemiology of snakebites from 2003 to 2024 and examined their relationship with demographic, socioeconomic, and biological factors. Incidence rates and demographic characteristics were calculated, and Getis-Ord Gi* statistics were used to identify snakebite hotspots. We also applied Non-Metric Multi-Dimensional Scaling (NMDS) to explore associations between hotspot categories and socioeconomic conditions. The potential distribution of 14 venomous snake species was modelled to estimate venomous snake diversity across municipalities. A total of 3,972 cases were reported, with an increasing trend over time. Most bites occurred in summer, affecting mainly males aged 25-44. Hotspot analysis identified 27 municipalities as hotspots, 50 as not significant and 48 as coldspots. Southern municipalities showed higher snakebite incidence. Coldspot areas had higher educational attainment and greater employment in services and tertiary sectors, despite similar snake diversity to hotspots. These findings can guide public health strategies, particularly regarding the allocation of antivenoms in regional hospitals.

Snakebite epidemiology in the State of Mexico, Mexico 2003-2024. (2026). Geospatial Health, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/gh.2026.1468