When Tarantula Venom Comes from a Misnamed Spider: The Importance of Taxonomic Accuracy in Theraphosid Toxinology

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  When Tarantula Venom Comes from a Misnamed Spider: The Importance of Taxonomic Accuracy in Theraphosid Toxinology I am very happy to share my most recent publication in Toxicon. This is a particularly meaningful publication for me because it brings together two areas that have become an important part of my work and personal interests: tarantulas and toxinology. At first glance, taxonomy and venom research may seem like two very different fields. In reality, they are closely connected. Before we can properly study the venom of a spider, we need to know which spider we are actually studying. Why the Name Matters A scientific name is much more than a label attached to an animal. It connects that animal to everything we report about it, including its biology, distribution, behavior, venom, toxins, and even its potential medical importance. When a tarantula is incorrectly identified, or when an outdated name continues to be used without considering changes in taxonomy, the problem ca...

First record of Ischnocolus Ausserer, 1871 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Turkey June 2026

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First record of Ischnocolus Ausserer, 1871 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Turkey June 2026

Abstract

Ischnocolus valentinus (Dufour, 1820) is recorded from Muğla Province in western Turkey based on a male deposited in the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum. This also constitutes the first record of the genus Ischnocolus from Turkey. 

Geci, Donard & Kunt, Kadir & Yağmur, Ersen & Sherwood, Danniella. (2026). First record of Ischnocolus Ausserer, 1871 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Turkey. 23. 344-349. 10.15298/invertzool.23.2.10. ResearchGate

Acknowledgement: My sincere thanks, as always, to Danni Sherwood for sharing this manuscript. I am deeply grateful for your friendship, support, and willingness to keep me informed of new developments in the field.