The chromosome-level genome of Mesobuthus martensii provides insights into its evolution and the diversity of venom peptides

  The chromosome-level genome of Mesobuthus martensii provides insights into its evolution and the diversity of venom peptides Abstract Mesobuthus martensii , the source species of the traditional Chinese medicine “Quanxie”, has long been utilized for its therapeutic properties. Venom peptides are recognized as the major active molecular basis of these pharmacological activities. Despite this, their development as therapeutic agents remains poorly explored. In this study, we performed an integrated multi-omics investigation to systematically explore the venom peptides of Mesobuthus martensii . We generated a chromosome-level genome assembly of Mesobuthus martensii using third-generation sequencing technologies, yielding a genome size of 1.08 Gb with a contig N50 of 46.46 Mb. Integrated genomic and transcriptomic analyses led to the identification of 51 putative novel venom peptide candidates. From the broader venom peptide set, five lysine- and arginine-rich candidates were select...

Two New Species of Scorpions (Scorpiones: Chactidae) from Northernmost Brazilian Amazon

 

Two New Species of Scorpions (Scorpiones: Chactidae) from Northernmost Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Amid an ongoing environmental crisis marked by high deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon, two new species of chactid scorpions are herein described. Cayooca puchus sp. n. is described from an inselberg in the municipality of Mucajaí, state of Roraima, northern Brazilian Amazon. The new species resembles Cayooca venezuelensis but differs by denser body granulation and strongly costate, scattered granular ventromedian and ventral prosubmedian carinae. Brotheas cernii sp. n., described from the same locality, resembles Brotheas granulatus and B. subgranulatus but differs by smaller body size, granular ventral carinae on metasomal segment I, strongly granular pedipalp chelae, and spinoid granules on ventral metasomal carinae of segments III–V. These findings reinforce the Amazon as a major center of biodiversity and highlight the likelihood that numerous species remain undescribed.

Lira, A. F., González-Santillán, E., Santos-da-Silva, A. P., Brescovit, A. D., Melo-dos-Santos, G., Rocha, A. M., Melo-dos-Santos, G., Frezarin-da-Silva, E., Leite, T. M., Cardoso, I. C., Santos, K. D., & Pucca, M. B. (2026). Two New Species of Scorpions (Scorpiones: Chactidae) from Northernmost Brazilian Amazon. Diversity, 18(6), 345. https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060345