Beyond Venom and Constriction: Bite Performance and Trophic Ecology in the Genus Drymarchon

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  Beyond Venom and Constriction: Bite Performance and Trophic Ecology in the Genus Drymarchon Abstract Snakes exhibit extreme cranial kinesis that facilitates ingestion of prey with large cross-sectional area, but this ability is widely predicted to reduce bite performance due to decreased structural rigidity. Consequently, most large-bodied snakes rely on envenomation or constriction to subdue prey prior to ingestion. Species within the genus Drymarchon represent a notable exception: these large, non-venomous, non-constricting snakes routinely consume a wide range of prey, including large and potentially dangerous vertebrates, using only simple seizing and pinioning behaviors. Here, we quantify bite performance in three species of Drymarchon ( D. corais, D. couperi, and D. melanurus ), examine morphological predictors of biting performance, compare biting pressure to constriction pressure in similarly sized snakes, and synthesize dietary records across the genus. Our results sh...

A Darwin Core dataset of scorpions (Arachnida, Scorpiones) from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) Collections

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A Darwin Core dataset of scorpions (Arachnida, Scorpiones) from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) Collections

Abstract

Background

This data paper details the publication of a dataset derived from the scorpion (Order Scorpiones C.L. Koch, 1850) collections preserved at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), Brussels. The dataset includes all 3,652 specimens mostly identified to genus or species level during a recent re-evaluation. To maximise accessibility and interoperability, the entire dataset was fully standardised using the Darwin Core (DwC) standard and published as open data. The published dataset comprises a significant collection of records, encompassing eleven families, 56 genera and 117 species of scorpions. Geographically, the specimens originate from a wide range of locations, in 59 countries. The records within this dataset span a substantial chronological period, with collection dates ranging from 1872 to 2023. Most of the specimens were collected during expeditions led by researchers of RBINS.

New information

The mobilisation and standardisation of this rich historical collection provide a valuable resource for global biodiversity informatics, supporting crucial research in taxonomy, ecology and biogeography of the order Scorpiones.


Durante F, Prendini L, Pizzolotto R, Wérenne G, Baert L, Musschoot T, Dekoninck W (2026) A Darwin Core dataset of scorpions (Arachnida, Scorpiones) from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) Collections. Biodiversity Data Journal 14: e188187. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e188187