Diversity and antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from the oral cavity of captive snakes

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  Diversity and antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from the oral cavity of captive snakes Abstract Venomous snake bites are a global public health issue, causing between 81 000 and 138 000 annual deaths and 400 000 permanent disabilities. This study investigated the oral bacterial diversity and antibiotic resistance profiles in captive  Viperidae  snakes. Oral swabs from 48 specimens across four species ( Porthidium lansbergii ,  Bothriechis nigroviridis ,  Cerrophidion sasai , and  Bothrops asper ) were analyzed using culture-dependent methods. Bacterial isolation and identification using the VITEK 2 automated system revealed 41 strains from 12 genera, predominantly Gram-negative bacteria, including  Morganella morganii  (11 isolates) and  Providencia rettgeri  (10 isolates). Antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated significant resistance patterns, with 100% resistance to cephalothin and cefazolin i...

A new species of pelican spider (Araneae: Archaeidae) from the Whitsunday hinterland of central-eastern Queensland

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A new species of pelican spider (Araneae: Archaeidae) from the Whitsunday hinterland of central-eastern Queensland

Abstract 

Pelican spiders of the genus Austrarchaea Forster & Platnick, 1984 (family Archaeidae) are well represented in the tropical rainforests of central-eastern and north-eastern Queensland, with nine species currently described. However, this monophyleytic tropical fauna remains poorly documented relative to other lineages of Archaeidae from subtropical and temperate regions south of the St Lawrence Gap, with numerous additional species likely still unnamed. Here, we describe a new species from the Central Mackay Coast bioregion of central-eastern Queensland. Like other Australian Archaeidae, it is a shortrange endemic taxon, known only from upland rainforest habitats in the Whitsunday hinterland near Airlie Beach. We show its clear morphological affinities to a closely related species from Eungella National Park, and further provide live habitus images and habitat information.


Rix MG & Harvey MS (2024). A new species of pelican spider (Araneae: Archaeidae) from the Whitsunday hinterland of central-eastern Queensland. Australian Journal of Taxonomy 64: 1–7. doi: https://doi.org/10.54102/ajt.8sf6i