Wolfgang Wüster
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View article: Experimental winter warming increases activity with signs of potential DNA damage in common wall lizards
Experimental winter warming increases activity with signs of potential DNA damage in common wall lizards Open
Winter is warming faster than summer, posing a substantial threat to hibernating ectotherms, whose physiology depends directly on environmental conditions. While the effects of active season warming are increasingly well understood, the co…
View article: The genome sequence of the common adder, Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758)
The genome sequence of the common adder, Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) Open
We present a genome assembly from an individual female Vipera berus (common adder; Chordata; Lepidosauria; Squamata; Viperidae). The haplotype-resolved assembly contains two haplotypes with total lengths of 1,695.0 megabases and 1,476.7 me…
View article: Nomenclatural historians are kindly requested to respect the intent of the Code: “Nomenclatural parsimony” and the case of the Nose-horned Viper, Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus, 1758)
Nomenclatural historians are kindly requested to respect the intent of the Code: “Nomenclatural parsimony” and the case of the Nose-horned Viper, Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) Open
Scientific biological nomenclature underpins all knowledge exchange on biodiversity and works best when the names of organisms are stable. However, science-driven changes to zoological nomenclature are essential to reflect advances in know…
View article: Shedding the mitochondrial blinkers: A long-overdue challenge for species delimitation in herpetology
Shedding the mitochondrial blinkers: A long-overdue challenge for species delimitation in herpetology Open
The advent of molecular methods has revolutionised the field of species delimitation and description, one of the key tasks of systematic biology. In animal taxonomy, one marker, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecule, has acquired and reta…
View article: Preclinical evaluation of the neutralising efficacy of three antivenoms against the venoms of the recently taxonomically partitioned E. ocellatus and E. romani
Preclinical evaluation of the neutralising efficacy of three antivenoms against the venoms of the recently taxonomically partitioned E. ocellatus and E. romani Open
Snakebite is a significant public health concern in Africa, with the viperid species Echis ocellatus being responsible for the majority of snakebite deaths in West Africa. Recently E. ocellatus underwent taxonomic revision and was split in…
View article: Haemostasis-altering effects of Milos viper (Macrovipera schweizeri) venom
Haemostasis-altering effects of Milos viper (Macrovipera schweizeri) venom Open
Haemotoxicity is one of the primary symptoms of viperid envenomation, manifesting in cardiovascular and haemostatic disturbances such as hypotension, haemorrhage, and coagulopathy. Bites by the Milos viper (Macrovipera schweizeri) have bee…
View article: A reliance on human habitats is key to the success of an introduced predatory reptile
A reliance on human habitats is key to the success of an introduced predatory reptile Open
Understanding the success of animals in novel environments is increasingly important as human-mediated introductions continue to move species far beyond their natural ranges. Alongside these introductions, inhabited and agricultural areas …
View article: The genome sequence of the common adder, Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758)
The genome sequence of the common adder, Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) Open
We present a genome assembly from an individual female Vipera berus (common adder; Chordata; Lepidosauria; Squamata; Viperidae). The haplotype-resolved assembly contains two haplotypes with total lengths of 1,695.0 megabases and 1,476.7 m…
View article: Taxonomic revision of the king cobra Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) species complex (Reptilia: Serpentes: Elapidae), with the description of two new species
Taxonomic revision of the king cobra Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) species complex (Reptilia: Serpentes: Elapidae), with the description of two new species Open
The taxonomy of king cobras (Ophiophagus) was reevaluated using qualitative, mensural and meristic characters, based on 148 entire and five skeletal specimens, and supported by a recent molecular phylogenetic analysis. We provide nomenclat…
View article: A reliance on human habitats is key to the success of an introduced predatory reptile
A reliance on human habitats is key to the success of an introduced predatory reptile Open
Understanding the success of animals in novel environments is increasingly important as human-mediated introductions continue to move species far beyond their natural ranges. Alongside these introductions, inhabited and agricultural areas …
View article: How not to describe a species: lessons from a tangle of anacondas (Boidae: <i>Eunectes</i> Wagler, 1830)
How not to describe a species: lessons from a tangle of anacondas (Boidae: <i>Eunectes</i> Wagler, 1830) Open
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 a…
View article: Museum DNA reveals a new, potentially extinct species of rinkhals (Serpentes: Elapidae: Hemachatus) from the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe
Museum DNA reveals a new, potentially extinct species of rinkhals (Serpentes: Elapidae: Hemachatus) from the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe Open
Genetic information plays a pivotal role in species recognition and delimitation, but rare or extinct animals can be difficult to obtain genetic samples from. While natural history wet collections have proven invaluable in the description …
View article: High standing diversity masks extreme genetic erosion in a declining snake
High standing diversity masks extreme genetic erosion in a declining snake Open
Average heterozygosity is frequently used as a proxy for genetic health, and to compare genetic diversity between species and populations. However, this measurement could be misleading if the distribution of heterozygosity across the genom…
View article: On the importance of types and the perils of “en passant” taxonomy: a brief history of the typification of Coluber naja Linnaeus, 1758 (Serpentes: Elapidae) and its implications, with the designation of a lectotype
On the importance of types and the perils of “en passant” taxonomy: a brief history of the typification of Coluber naja Linnaeus, 1758 (Serpentes: Elapidae) and its implications, with the designation of a lectotype Open
In response to the recent in passing (“en passant”) taxonomic decision to split Naja naja (Linnaeus) and recognise the Sri Lankan populations as a separate species, N. polyocellata Deraniyagala, we analyse the evidence underlying the propo…
View article: You are what your ancestors ate: retained bufadienolide resistance in the piscivorous water cobra Naja annulata (Serpentes: Elapidae)
You are what your ancestors ate: retained bufadienolide resistance in the piscivorous water cobra Naja annulata (Serpentes: Elapidae) Open
Predators exploiting chemically defended prey are generally resistant to prey toxins. However, toxin resistance usually incurs a fitness cost and is therefore often lost when no longer needed. Bufonid toads are a frequently abundant food r…
View article: One Size Fits All—Venomics of the Iberian Adder (Vipera seoanei, Lataste 1878) Reveals Low Levels of Venom Variation across Its Distributional Range
One Size Fits All—Venomics of the Iberian Adder (Vipera seoanei, Lataste 1878) Reveals Low Levels of Venom Variation across Its Distributional Range Open
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 Vip…
View article: Bungled Bungarus: lessons from a venomous snake complex illustrate why taxonomic decisions belong in taxonomy-competent journals
Bungled Bungarus: lessons from a venomous snake complex illustrate why taxonomic decisions belong in taxonomy-competent journals Open
In response to an article in a toxinology specialty journal by Sunagar et al. (2021), in which the authors proposed a name for a new species of krait in the Bungarus caeruleus group, Dubois et al. (2021: 120) reminded herpetologists (for t…
View article: Medically important snakes and snakebite envenoming in Iran
Medically important snakes and snakebite envenoming in Iran Open
Snakebite is a relatively common health condition in Iran with a diverse snake fauna, especially in tropical southern and mountainous western areas of the country with a plethora of snake species. The list of medically important snakes, ci…
View article: Genomics reveals broad hybridization in deeply divergent Palearctic grass and water snakes (Natrix spp.)
Genomics reveals broad hybridization in deeply divergent Palearctic grass and water snakes (Natrix spp.) Open
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 preve…
View article: Multilevel Comparison of Indian Naja Venoms and Their Cross-Reactivity with Indian Polyvalent Antivenoms
Multilevel Comparison of Indian Naja Venoms and Their Cross-Reactivity with Indian Polyvalent Antivenoms Open
Snake envenoming is caused by many biological species, rather than a single infectious agent, each with a multiplicity of toxins in their venom. Hence, developing effective treatments is challenging, especially in biodiverse and biogeograp…
View article: Toxic Habits: An Analysis of General Trends and Biases in Snake Venom Research
Toxic Habits: An Analysis of General Trends and Biases in Snake Venom Research Open
Biases in snake venom research have been partially identified but seldomly quantified. Using the Google Scholar web search engine, we collected a total of 267 articles published between 1964 and 2021, and reviewed them to assess the main t…
View article: The benefits of contributing to the citizen science platform iNaturalist as an identifier
The benefits of contributing to the citizen science platform iNaturalist as an identifier Open
As the number of observations submitted to the citizen science platform iNaturalist continues to grow, it is increasingly important that these observations can be identified to the finest taxonomic level, maximizing their value for biodive…
View article: Bacterial Adaptation to Venom in Snakes and Arachnida
Bacterial Adaptation to Venom in Snakes and Arachnida Open
Notwithstanding their 3 to 5% mortality, the 2.7 million envenomation-related injuries occurring annually—predominantly across Africa, Asia, and Latin America—are also major causes of morbidity. Venom toxin-damaged tissue will develop infe…
View article: Convergent evolution of toxin resistance in animals
Convergent evolution of toxin resistance in animals Open
Convergence is the phenomenon whereby similar phenotypes evolve independently in different lineages. One example is resistance to toxins in animals. Toxins have evolved many times throughout the tree of life. They disrupt molecular and phy…
View article: How do King Cobras move across a major highway? Unintentional wildlife crossing structures may facilitate movement
How do King Cobras move across a major highway? Unintentional wildlife crossing structures may facilitate movement Open
Global road networks continue to expand, and the wildlife responses to these landscape‐level changes need to be understood to advise long‐term management decisions. Roads have high mortality risk to snakes because snakes typically move slo…
View article: Mohave Rattlesnake (<i>Crotalus scutulatus</i>) Identification Revisited
Mohave Rattlesnake (<i>Crotalus scutulatus</i>) Identification Revisited Open
Crotalus scutulatus (Mohave rattlesnake) is a clinically significant pit viper broadly distributed across much of the arid southwestern United States and mainland Mexico. Identification of C scutulatus is a concern among emergency medical …