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...

New species and records of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from the Maghreb

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New species and records of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from the Maghreb

Abstract

Based on the examination of several series of specimens collected in the Maghreb during 2014–2026, new taxonomic and faunistic data on the spider fauna of this region are provided. Eight species are described as new to science from Algeria: Archaeodictyna bosmansi Alioua & Zamani, sp. nov. (♂♀; El Maghaier), A . ouridae Alioua & Zamani, sp. nov. (♂♀; El Maghaier) [Dictynidae], Leptopilos gaetulinus Zamani & Alioua, sp. nov. (♀; El Maghaier) [Gnaphosidae], Nemesia numidica Zamani & Alioua, sp. nov. (♂; Ghardaïa) [Nemesiidae], Sulsula meghairica Zamani & Alioua, sp. nov. (♂; El Maghaier) [Oonopidae], Halodromus algericus Zamani & Alioua, sp. nov. (♂♀; El Maghaier) [Philodromidae], Artema saharensis Zamani & Alioua, sp. nov. (♂; El Menia and Ghardaïa) [Pholcidae], and Xysticus ogeri Alioua, Zamani & Dekkoumi, sp. nov. (♀; El Maghaier) [Thomisidae]. The previously unknown females of Cheiracanthium minusculum Zamani & Marusik, 2025 [Cheiracanthiidae] and Evarcha nigricans (Dalmas, 1920) [Salticidae] are described. The female described as Cryptodrassus michaeli Barrientos, 2024 [Gnaphosidae], currently known only from Spain, is shown to be misidentified and is herein attributed to “ Zelotes ” imazigheni Barrientos, 2024 [Gnaphosidae], which is misplaced in its current genus. In addition, numerous new records are documented, including nine species from Algeria; two families, four genera, and four species from Mauritania; three genera and 13 species from Libya; and one species from Tunisia. Among these records, three species are reported from Africa for the first time, and one species is recorded for the first time from the western Mediterranean. Finally, the first list of spider species known from Mauritania is provided.

Zamani, A., Belhadi, A., Dekkoumi, B., Iflefel, SA, Sidatt, ZEA, Elmareme, HM, Shaibi, T., Meddour, S. & Alioua, Y. (2026) New species and records of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from the Maghreb. Zootaxa , 5873 (1), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5873.1.1