How to ensure a species remains in oblivion: the history of Nemesia hispanica L. Koch, 1871 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Nemesiidae)

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  How to ensure a species remains in oblivion: the history of Nemesia hispanica L. Koch, 1871 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Nemesiidae) Abstract The taxonomic history of Nemesia hispanica L. Koch 1871 is revised; it is a species long affected by misidentifications since 1871. New material from Monte Abantos, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid (Spain) is analyzed, providing the first descriptions of males, adult females, and burrow structure—particularly relevant given that the holotype seems to be an immature specimen. Morphology of copulatory organs and the distinctive burrow architecture allow clear differentiation from other morphologically related species. Finally, the historical chain of misidentifications is examined, along with its implications for Iberian nemesiid diversity and taxonomy. Pertegal, C., Narro, A. & Olivares, P. (2026) How to ensure a species remains in oblivion: the history of Nemesia hispanica L. Koch, 1871 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Nemesiidae). Zootaxa , 5869...

Origin and Evolution of Venom in Squamate Reptiles

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Origin and Evolution of Venom in Squamate Reptiles

Abstract

Reptile venoms have become a central focus of biological research for two fundamentally different reasons: for public health, venomous snakes are of considerable importance, and for evolutionary research, where venoms provide exemplary systems for studying the links between genotype, biochemical phenotype, and environment. The advent of -omics technologies has enabled major advances in our understanding of the evolution of reptile venoms and their regulatory mechanisms. Here, we reanalyze evidence on the early evolution of venom in squamates and find support for multiple independent origins, rather than a single origin. We review the current state of knowledge on the evolution of toxin genes, the selective drivers of venom evolution, and the regulatory mechanisms controlling the synthesis of venom from the information contained in the genome. We stress that, while -omics technologies have revolutionized our knowledge of venom evolution, understanding the natural history of reptile venoms remains crucial to resolving key points of uncertainty in reptile venom evolution.

Wüster, W., Modahl, C. M., & Arbuckle, K. (2026). Origin and Evolution of Venom in Squamate Reptiles. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102924-010315