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4. How not to describe a species: lessons from a tangle of anacondas (Boidae: Eunectes Wagler, 1830).

Author

Wüster, Wolfgang, Kaiser, Hinrich, Hoogmoed, Marinus S, Ceríaco, Luis M P, Dirksen, Lutz, Dufresnes, Christophe, Glaw, Frank, Hille, Axel, Köhler, Jörn, Koppetsch, Thore, Milto, Konstantin D, Shea, Glenn M, Tarkhnishvili, David, Thomson, Scott A, Vences, Miguel, and Böhme, Wolfgang

Subjects
*ZOOLOGICAL nomenclature, *MITOCHONDRIAL DNA, *SNAKES, *BEST practices, *SPECIES
Abstract

A recent revision of the anacondas (Serpentes: Boidae: Eunectes), with the description of a new species of green anaconda, generated extensive publicity, but also provoked considerable controversy due to inadequacies of the evidence used and errors in nomenclature. We here use the case of this problematic publication to: (i) highlight common issues affecting species delimitations, especially an over-reliance on mitochondrial DNA data, and reiterate best practices; (ii) reanalyse the data available for anacondas to establish the true current state of knowledge and to highlight lines of further research; and (iii) analyse the nomenclatural history and status of the genus. While our analysis reveals significant morphological variation in both green and yellow anacondas, denser sampling and an analysis of informative nuclear markers are required for meaningful species delimitation in Eunectes. Tracing the history of name-bearing types establishes Trinidad as the type locality for Boa murina Linnaeus, 1758 and allows identification of the extant lectotype for the species. Finally, we emphasize the responsibility of both journals and authors to ensure that published taxonomic work meets the burden of evidence required to substantiate new species descriptions and that species are named in compliance with the rules of zoological nomenclature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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11. The king cobra genome reveals dynamic gene evolution and adaptation in the snake venom system.

Author

Vonk, Freek, Casewell, Nicholas, Henkel, Christiaan, Heimberg, Alysha, Jansen, Hans, McCleary, Ryan, Kerkkamp, Harald, Vos, Rutger, Guerreiro, Isabel, Calvete, Juan, Wüster, Wolfgang, Woods, Anthony, Logan, Jessica, Harrison, Robert, Castoe, Todd, de Koning, A, Pollock, David, Yandell, Mark, Calderon, Diego, Renjifo, Camila, Currier, Rachel, Salgado, David, Pla, Davinia, Sanz, Libia, Hyder, Asad, Ribeiro, José, Arntzen, Jan, van den Thillart, Guido, Boetzer, Marten, Pirovano, Walter, Dirks, Ron, Spaink, Herman, Duboule, Denis, McGlinn, Edwina, Kini, R, and Richardson, Michael

Subjects
genomics, phylogenetics, serpentes, Adaptation, Biological, Animals, Elapid Venoms, Elapidae, Evolution, Molecular, Exocrine Glands, Genome, MicroRNAs, Transcriptome
Abstract

Snakes are limbless predators, and many species use venom to help overpower relatively large, agile prey. Snake venoms are complex protein mixtures encoded by several multilocus gene families that function synergistically to cause incapacitation. To examine venom evolution, we sequenced and interrogated the genome of a venomous snake, the king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), and compared it, together with our unique transcriptome, microRNA, and proteome datasets from this species, with data from other vertebrates. In contrast to the platypus, the only other venomous vertebrate with a sequenced genome, we find that snake toxin genes evolve through several distinct co-option mechanisms and exhibit surprisingly variable levels of gene duplication and directional selection that correlate with their functional importance in prey capture. The enigmatic accessory venom gland shows a very different pattern of toxin gene expression from the main venom gland and seems to have recruited toxin-like lectin genes repeatedly for new nontoxic functions. In addition, tissue-specific microRNA analyses suggested the co-option of core genetic regulatory components of the venom secretory system from a pancreatic origin. Although the king cobra is limbless, we recovered coding sequences for all Hox genes involved in amniote limb development, with the exception of Hoxd12. Our results provide a unique view of the origin and evolution of snake venom and reveal multiple genome-level adaptive responses to natural selection in this complex biological weapon system. More generally, they provide insight into mechanisms of protein evolution under strong selection.

Published
2013

14. One Size Fits All—Venomics of the Iberian Adder (Vipera seoanei, Lataste 1878) Reveals Low Levels of Venom Variation across Its Distributional Range

Author

Avella, Ignazio, Damm, Maik, Freitas, Inês, Wüster, Wolfgang, Lucchini, Nahla, Zuazo, Óscar, Süssmuth, Roderich D., and Martínez-Freiría, Fernando

Subjects
regional variation, 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik::540 Chemie::540 Chemie und zugeordnete Wissenschaften, bottom-up proteomics, snake venom, viper, Iberian Peninsula
Abstract

European vipers (genus Vipera) are medically important snakes displaying considerable venom variation, occurring at different levels in this group. The presence of intraspecific venom variation, however, remains understudied in several Vipera species. Vipera seoanei is a venomous snake endemic to the northern Iberian Peninsula and south-western France, presenting notable phenotypic variation and inhabiting several diverse habitats across its range. We analysed the venoms of 49 adult specimens of V. seoanei from 20 localities across the species’ Iberian distribution. We used a pool of all individual venoms to generate a V. seoanei venom reference proteome, produced SDS-PAGE profiles of all venom samples, and visualised patterns of variation using NMDS. By applying linear regression, we then assessed presence and nature of venom variation between localities, and investigated the effect of 14 predictors (biological, eco-geographic, genetic) on its occurrence. The venom comprised at least 12 different toxin families, of which five (i.e., PLA2, svSP, DI, snaclec, svMP) accounted for about 75% of the whole proteome. The comparative analyses of the SDS-PAGE venom profiles showed them to be remarkably similar across the sampled localities, suggesting low geographic variability. The regression analyses suggested significant effects of biological and habitat predictors on the little variation we detected across the analysed V. seoanei venoms. Other factors were also significantly associated with the presence/absence of individual bands in the SDS-PAGE profiles. The low levels of venom variability we detected within V. seoanei might be the result of a recent population expansion, or of processes other than directional positive selection.

Published
2023
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16. Medically important snakes and snakebite envenoming in Iran

Author

Dehghani, Ruhollah, primary, Monzavi, Seyed Mostafa, additional, Mehrpour, Omid, additional, Shirazi, Farshad M., additional, Hassanian-Moghaddam, Hossein, additional, Keyler, Daniel E., additional, Wüster, Wolfgang, additional, Westerström, Alexander, additional, and Warrell, David A., additional

Published
2023
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19. Investigating venom compositionand variation in West European vipers University do Porto

Author

Martínez-Freiría, Fernando, Wüster, Wolfgang, Calvete, Juan J., Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), Calvete, Juan J. [0000-0001-5026-3122], Avella, Ignazio, Martínez-Freiría, Fernando, Wüster, Wolfgang, Calvete, Juan J., Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), Calvete, Juan J. [0000-0001-5026-3122], and Avella, Ignazio

Abstract

The application in recent years of the high-throughput methodologies constituting snake venomics has provided snake venom research with renewed interest and enthusiasm, leading to the rapid production of a remarkable amount of information on a multitude of snake venoms, and providing a comprehensive view of their compositions and properties. This has allowed to obtain a detailed insight into some of the processes underlying snake venom origin and evolution, and has led to the identification of compounds of potential medicinal relevance, and to the development of powerful therapeutic tools to mitigate the global burden of snakebite. Nonetheless, considerable knowledge gaps exist in snake venom research, especially concerning the attention paid to certain topics and snake species. The main goal of this thesis is to contribute to this research field, increasing the current knowledge on the venoms produced by European vipers, focusing on species of the genus Vipera from the Iberian Peninsula. Aiming to provide the first qualitative and quantitative estimate of the trends and biases in snake venom research, we reviewed a total of 267 snake venom studies published between 1964 and 2021. While our analysis showed an overall positive trend in the number of articles published yearly, it also underlined severe neglect of snake families of supposedly minor medical relevance (e.g., Atractaspididae), underrepresentation of some of the areas most impacted by snakebite (i.e., Indomalayan and Afrotropic realms), and limited interest in the ecological and functional context of snake venom. Indeed, snakes of the family Viperidae were significantly more represented than any other snake taxon retrieved, the Neotropics were the most represented biogeographic realm for number of studied species, and the vast majority of the publications focused on snake venom characterisation, whereas more ecology-related topics were rarely considered. Although snakes of the family Viperidae were the mos

Published
2023

20. Genomics reveals broad hybridization in deeply divergent Palearctic grass and water snakes (Natrix spp.)

Author

Schöneberg, Yannis, Winter, Sven, Arribas, Oscar, Di Nicola, Matteo Riccardo, Master, Maya, Owens, John Benjamin, Rovatsos, Michail, Wüster, Wolfgang, Janke, Axel, Fritz, Uwe, Schöneberg, Yannis, Winter, Sven, Arribas, Oscar, Di Nicola, Matteo Riccardo, Master, Maya, Owens, John Benjamin, Rovatsos, Michail, Wüster, Wolfgang, Janke, Axel, and Fritz, Uwe

Abstract

Highlights • Genomes for all five Natrix species, two represented by two distinct subspecies each, were sequenced. • Two genomes were de-novo assembled to their 1.7 Gb length with a contig N50 of 4.6 Mbp and 1.5 Mbp. • Evidence for interspecific hybridization, both between allopatric and widely sympatric species. • Fossil-calibrated molecular clock using genomes indicates that species are ancient several million-year-old lineages. • Our findings imply that speciation took place despite continued gene flow. Abstract Understanding speciation is one of the cornerstones of biological diversity research. Currently, speciation is often understood as a continuous process of divergence that continues until genetic or other incompatibilities minimize or prevent interbreeding. The Palearctic snake genus Natrix is an ideal group to study speciation, as it comprises taxa representing distinct stages of the speciation process, ranging from widely interbreeding parapatric taxa through parapatric species with very limited gene flow in narrow hybrid zones to widely sympatric species. To understand the evolution of reproductive isolation through time, we have sequenced the genomes of all five species within this genus and two additional subspecies. We used both long-read and short-read methods to sequence and de-novo-assemble two high-quality genomes (Natrix h. helvetica, Natrix n. natrix) to their 1.7 Gb length with a contig N50 of 4.6 Mbp and 1.5 Mbp, respectively, and used these as references to assemble the remaining short-read-based genomes. Our phylogenomic analyses yielded a well-supported dated phylogeny and evidence for a surprisingly complex history of interspecific gene flow, including between widely sympatric species. Furthermore, evidence for gene flow was also found for currently allopatric species pairs. Genetic exchange among these well-defined, distinct, and several million-year-old reptile species emphasizes that speciation and maintenance of species distinctness c

Published
2023

22. The benefits of contributing to the citizen science platform iNaturalist as an identifier

Author

Callaghan, Corey T., primary, Mesaglio, Thomas, additional, Ascher, John S., additional, Brooks, Thomas M., additional, Cabras, Analyn A., additional, Chandler, Mark, additional, Cornwell, William K., additional, Cristóbal Ríos-Málaver, Indiana, additional, Dankowicz, Even, additional, Urfi Dhiya’ulhaq, Naufal, additional, Fuller, Richard A., additional, Galindo-Leal, Carlos, additional, Grattarola, Florencia, additional, Hewitt, Susan, additional, Higgins, Lila, additional, Hitchcock, Colleen, additional, James Hung, Keng-Lou, additional, Iwane, Tony, additional, Kahumbu, Paula, additional, Kendrick, Roger, additional, Kieschnick, Samuel R., additional, Kunz, Gernot, additional, Lee, Chien C., additional, Lin, Cheng-Tao, additional, Loarie, Scott, additional, Norman Medina, Milton, additional, McGrouther, Mark A., additional, Miles, Lera, additional, Modi, Shaunak, additional, Nowak, Katarzyna, additional, Oktaviani, Rahayu, additional, Waswala Olewe, Brian M., additional, Pagé, James, additional, Petrovan, Silviu, additional, saari, cassi, additional, Seltzer, Carrie E., additional, Seregin, Alexey P., additional, Sullivan, Jon J., additional, Sumanapala, Amila P., additional, Takoukam, Aristide, additional, Widness, Jane, additional, Willmott, Keith, additional, Wüster, Wolfgang, additional, and Young, Alison N., additional

Published
2022
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25. Analytical strategies in venomics

Author

Calvete, Juan J. [0000-0001-5026-3122], Slagboom, Julien, Kaal, Chiel, Arrahman, Arif, Vonka, Freek J., Somsen, Govert W., Calvete, Juan J., Wüster, Wolfgang, Kool, Jeroen, Calvete, Juan J. [0000-0001-5026-3122], Slagboom, Julien, Kaal, Chiel, Arrahman, Arif, Vonka, Freek J., Somsen, Govert W., Calvete, Juan J., Wüster, Wolfgang, and Kool, Jeroen

Abstract

Snakebite envenoming is a major issue in certain developing parts of the world, with tens of thousands of deaths and a multitude of lingering permanent medical conditions on a yearly basis as a result. Venoms consist of a plethora of biologically active compounds, mainly peptides and proteins, that can induce these effects. Snake venom characterisation, in terms of identifying and quantifying the venom toxin proteins in crude venoms, can aid in pinpointing the venom toxins responsible for pathologies observed in snakebite victims. It can also assist in developing a new generation of efficient antivenoms. To facilitate this characterisation process, several approaches have been developed, of which venomics, toxicovenomics and antivenomics are the most important ones and aim to map venom toxin composition, their toxic effects, and antivenom efficacy, respectively. Most venomics approaches include peptide-centric analyses of protein digests in combination with advanced separation and detection hardware and involve the use of generic and dedicated software tools for data processing. However, a shift towards protein-level, and even proteoform-level, analysis can be observed over the last few years. A variety of hyphenated intact protein separation techniques, including gel-eluted liquid fraction entrapment electrophoresis, OFFGEL, gel filtration and several (ultra)high pressure and nanoscale chromatographic separations can be named, which allow retention of intact or native states of toxin proteins with ever increasing resolutions. Similarly, rapid detection hardware advances on the mass spectrometry side, and labelling techniques, allow for increasingly sensitive and quantitative venom analysis and characterisation. Most venomics research includes several complementary analytical techniques performed in parallel, with each technique often leading to exclusive protein identifications but also showing significant overlap. The original venomics approach, developed by the C

Published
2022

26. Convergent evolution of toxin resistance in animals

Author

van Thiel, Jory, primary, Khan, Muzaffar A., additional, Wouters, Roel M., additional, Harris, Richard J., additional, Casewell, Nicholas R., additional, Fry, Bryan G., additional, Kini, R. Manjunatha, additional, Mackessy, Stephen P., additional, Vonk, Freek J., additional, Wüster, Wolfgang, additional, and Richardson, Michael K., additional

Published
2022
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27. Analytical strategies in venomics

Author

Slagboom, Julien, primary, Kaal, Chiel, additional, Arrahman, Arif, additional, Vonk, Freek J., additional, Somsen, Govert W., additional, Calvete, Juan J., additional, Wüster, Wolfgang, additional, and Kool, Jeroen, additional

Published
2022
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28. How do King Cobras move across a major highway? Unintentional wildlife crossing structures may facilitate movement

Author

Jones, Max Dolton, primary, Marshall, Benjamin Michael, additional, Smith, Samantha Nicole, additional, Crane, Matt, additional, Silva, Inês, additional, Artchawakom, Taksin, additional, Suwanwaree, Pongthep, additional, Waengsothorn, Surachit, additional, Wüster, Wolfgang, additional, Goode, Matt, additional, and Strine, Colin Thomas, additional

Published
2022
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29. King or royal family? Testing for species boundaries in the King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836), using morphology and multilocus DNA analyses

Author

Gowri Shankar, P., primary, Swamy, Priyanka, additional, Williams, Rhiannon C., additional, Ganesh, S.R., additional, Moss, Matt, additional, Höglund, Jacob, additional, Das, Indraneil, additional, Sahoo, Gunanidhi, additional, Vijayakumar, S.P., additional, Shanker, Kartik, additional, Wüster, Wolfgang, additional, and Dutta, Sushil K., additional

Published
2021
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31. An evaluation of the nomina for death adders (Acanthophis Daudin, 1803) proposed by Wells & Wellington (1985), and confirmation of A. cryptamydros Maddock et al., 2015 as the valid name for the Kimberley death adder

Author

Ellis, Ryan J., Kaiser, Hinrich, Maddock, Simon T., Doughty, Paul, and Wüster, Wolfgang

Subjects
Reptilia, Squamata, Animalia, Biodiversity, Elapidae, Chordata, Taxonomy
Abstract

Ellis, Ryan J., Kaiser, Hinrich, Maddock, Simon T., Doughty, Paul, Wüster, Wolfgang (2021): An evaluation of the nomina for death adders (Acanthophis Daudin, 1803) proposed by Wells & Wellington (1985), and confirmation of A. cryptamydros Maddock et al., 2015 as the valid name for the Kimberley death adder. Zootaxa 4995 (1): 161-172, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4995.1.9

Published
2021

32. Promoting co-existence between humans and venomous snakes through increasing the herpetological knowledge base

Author

Malhotra, Anita, primary, Wüster, Wolfgang, additional, Owens, John Benjamin, additional, Hodges, Cameron Wesley, additional, Jesudasan, Allwin, additional, Ch, Gnaneswar, additional, Kartik, Ajay, additional, Christopher, Peter, additional, Louies, Jose, additional, Naik, Hiral, additional, Santra, Vishal, additional, Kuttalam, Sourish Rajagopalan, additional, Attre, Shaleen, additional, Sasa, Mahmood, additional, Bravo-Vega, Carlos, additional, and Murray, Kris A., additional

Published
2021
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33. Snake Identification in the Ancient Egyptian Brooklyn Medical Papyrus : A New Study of the Twenty-Four Extant Registers of the 'Snakebite Papyrus'

Author

Casewell, Nicholas R., Meltzer, Edmund S., Sanchez, Gonzalo M., Schuett, Gordon W., Wuster, Wolfgang, Casewell, Nicholas R., Meltzer, Edmund S., Sanchez, Gonzalo M., Schuett, Gordon W., and Wuster, Wolfgang

Subjects
Snakes--Egypt, Snakebites--Treatment--Egypt--History--To 1500
Abstract

This book is about snakebite and snake identification in ancient Egypt. The authors--in a remarkable collaboration between the fields of Egyptology, medicine, herpetology, biology, and ecology--offer a new examination of the Brooklyn Medical Papyrus, better-known as the Snakebite Papyrus, a pragmatic medical treatise concerned with snake identification, snakebite, and treatment. Dating to sometime in the seventh through fourth centuries BCE, the document is the first-known structured treatise on snakebites from antiquity. The preserved paragraphs name 24 snakes (and one chameleon), providing a brief description of the snake, sometimes its habits, the appearance of its bite, and the effects on the victim. The papyrus was intended to enable the ancient physician to identify the snake from the description given by the patient in order to give appropriate prognosis and treatment. As there was little effective treatment for snake bites in ancient Egypt, sometimes the physician resorted to magical incantations to invoke divine assistance. The Snakebite Papyrus was first translated into French by Serge Sauneron and published posthumously in 1989. Major advances in fields such as biogeography, climate and niche modeling, and linguistics in the past thirty years have brought new perspectives. The authors provide a review of Sauneron's and more recent studies and bring their own investigations, results, and comparisons to further clarify this remarkable historical document.

Published
2024

34. How do King Cobras move across a major highway? Unintentional wildlife crossing structures may facilitate movement

Author

Jones, Max Dolton, primary, Marshall, Benjamin Michael, additional, Smith, Samantha Nicole, additional, Crane, Matt, additional, Silva, Inês, additional, Artchawakom, Taksin, additional, Suwanwaree, Pongthep, additional, Waengsothorn, Surachit, additional, Wüster, Wolfgang, additional, Goode, Matt, additional, and Strine, Colin Thomas, additional

Published
2021
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35. Citizen science and online data: Opportunities and challenges for snake ecology and action against snakebite

Author

Durso, Andrew M., primary, Ruiz de Castañeda, Rafael, additional, Montalcini, Camille, additional, Mondardini, M. Rosa, additional, Fernandez-Marques, Jose L., additional, Grey, François, additional, Müller, Martin M., additional, Uetz, Peter, additional, Marshall, Benjamin M., additional, Gray, Russell J., additional, Smith, Christopher E., additional, Becker, Donald, additional, Pingleton, Michael, additional, Louies, Jose, additional, Abegg, Arthur D., additional, Akuboy, Jeannot, additional, Alcoba, Gabriel, additional, Daltry, Jennifer C., additional, Entiauspe-Neto, Omar M., additional, Freed, Paul, additional, de Freitas, Marco Antonio, additional, Glaudas, Xavier, additional, Huang, Song, additional, Huang, Tianqi, additional, Kalki, Yatin, additional, Kojima, Yosuke, additional, Laudisoit, Anne, additional, Limbu, Kul Prasad, additional, Martínez-Fonseca, José G., additional, Mebert, Konrad, additional, Rödel, Mark-Oliver, additional, Ruane, Sara, additional, Ruedi, Manuel, additional, Schmitz, Andreas, additional, Tatum, Sarah A., additional, Tillack, Frank, additional, Visvanathan, Avinash, additional, Wüster, Wolfgang, additional, and Bolon, Isabelle, additional

Published
2021
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39. Evaluating taxonomic inflation: Towards evidence-based species delimitation in Eurasian vipers (Serpentes: Viperinae)

Author

European Commission, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal), Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde, Volkswagen Foundation, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Republic of Serbia, Freitas, Inês, Ursenbacher, Sylvain, Mebert, Konrad, Zinenko, Oleksandr, Schweiger, Silke, Wüster, Wolfgang, Brito, José C., Crnobrnja-Isailovic, Jelka, Halpern, Bálint, Fahd, Soumia, Santos, Xavier, Pleguezuelos, Juan M., Joger, Ulrich, Orloy, Nikolay, Mizsei, Edvárd, Lourdais, Olivier, Zuffi, Marco A.L., Strugariu, Alexandru, Zamfirescu, Stefan Remus, Martínez-Solano, Íñigo, Velo-Antón, Guillermo, Kaliontzopoulou, Antigoni, Martínez-Freiría, Fernando, European Commission, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal), Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde, Volkswagen Foundation, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Republic of Serbia, Freitas, Inês, Ursenbacher, Sylvain, Mebert, Konrad, Zinenko, Oleksandr, Schweiger, Silke, Wüster, Wolfgang, Brito, José C., Crnobrnja-Isailovic, Jelka, Halpern, Bálint, Fahd, Soumia, Santos, Xavier, Pleguezuelos, Juan M., Joger, Ulrich, Orloy, Nikolay, Mizsei, Edvárd, Lourdais, Olivier, Zuffi, Marco A.L., Strugariu, Alexandru, Zamfirescu, Stefan Remus, Martínez-Solano, Íñigo, Velo-Antón, Guillermo, Kaliontzopoulou, Antigoni, and Martínez-Freiría, Fernando

Abstract

The designation of taxonomic units has important implications for the understanding and conservation of biodiversity. Eurasian vipers are a monophyletic group of viperid snakes (Serpentes, Viperinae), currently comprising four genera (Daboia, Macrovipera, Montivipera and Vipera) and up to 40 species. Taxonomic units have been described using a wide variety of methods and criteria, and consequently, considerable controversy still surrounds the validity of some currently listed species. In order to promote a consensus- A nd evidence-based taxonomy of Eurasian vipers, we analysed published mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences for this group to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships among currently recognized viper species. We also compiled information on external morphology to assess their morphological distinctiveness. Phylogenetic inference based on mtDNA sequences shows contrasting levels of divergence across genera and species and identifies several instances of non-monophyly in described species. Nuclear DNA sequences show extremely low levels of genetic variation, with a widespread pattern of allele sharing among distant species, and even among genera. Revision of morphological data shows that most species designations rely on scalation traits that overlap extensively among species of the same genus. Based on our combined assessment, we recognize 15 taxa as valid species, three taxa which likely represent species complexes, 17 taxa of doubtful validity as species, and five taxa for which species status is maintained but further research is highly recommended to assess taxonomic arrangements. We stress the need to implement integrative taxonomic approaches for the recognition of evidence-based taxonomic units in Eurasian vipers.

Published
2020

47. Evaluating taxonomic inflation: towards evidence-based species delimitation in Eurasian vipers (Serpentes: Viperinae)

Author

Freitas, Inês, primary, Ursenbacher, Sylvain, additional, Mebert, Konrad, additional, Zinenko, Oleksandr, additional, Schweiger, Silke, additional, Wüster, Wolfgang, additional, Brito, José C., additional, Crnobrnja-Isailović, Jelka, additional, Halpern, Bálint, additional, Fahd, Soumia, additional, Santos, Xavier, additional, Pleguezuelos, Juan M., additional, Joger, Ulrich, additional, Orlov, Nikolay, additional, Mizsei, Edvárd, additional, Lourdais, Olivier, additional, Zuffi, Marco A.L., additional, Strugariu, Alexandru, additional, Zamfirescu, Ştefan Remus, additional, Martínez-Solano, Íñigo, additional, Velo-Antón, Guillermo, additional, Kaliontzopoulou, Antigoni, additional, and Martínez-Freiría, Fernando, additional

Published
2020
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48. Response to comments on “Compassionate Conservation deserves a morally serious rather than dismissive response - reply to ”

Author

Callen, Alex, primary, Hayward, Matt W., additional, Klop-Toker, Kaya, additional, Allen, Benjamin L., additional, Ballard, Guy, additional, Beranek, Chad T., additional, Broekhuis, Femke, additional, Bugir, Cassandra K., additional, Clarke, Rohan H., additional, Clulow, John, additional, Clulow, Simon, additional, Daltry, Jennifer C., additional, Davies-Mostert, Harriet T., additional, Di Blanco, Yamil E., additional, Dixon, Victoria, additional, Fleming, Peter J.S., additional, Howell, Lachlan G., additional, Kerley, Graham I.H., additional, Legge, Sarah M., additional, Lenga, Dean J., additional, Majorq, Tom, additional, Montgomery, Robert A., additional, Moseby, Katherine, additional, Meyer, Ninon, additional, Parker, Dan M., additional, Périquet, Stéphanie, additional, Read, John, additional, Scanlon, Robert J., additional, Shuttleworth, Craig, additional, Tamessar, Cottrell T., additional, Taylor, William Andrew, additional, Tuft, Katherine, additional, Upton, Rose M.O., additional, Valenzuela, Marcia, additional, Witt, Ryan R., additional, and Wüster, Wolfgang, additional

Published
2020
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49. Convergent evolution of defensive venom components in spitting cobras

Author

Kazandjian, Taline, primary, Petras, Daniel, additional, Robinson, Sam, additional, Undheim, Eivind, additional, Arbuckle, Kevin, additional, Whiteley, Gareth, additional, Albulescu, Laura-Oana, additional, Ainsworth, Stuart, additional, Wagstaff, Simon, additional, Wüster, Wolfgang, additional, Harrison, Robert, additional, Vetter, Irina, additional, Calvete, Juan, additional, and Casewell, Nicholas, additional

Published
2020
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