Rev Rom Med Vet (2021) 31 | 2: 89-91 89

ISSN: 1220-3173; E-ISSN: 2457-7618

A SHORT REVIEW REGARDING THE VENOMOUS SPECIES ON ROMANIA'S TERRITORY O SCURTĂ RECENZIE CU PRIVIRE LA SPECIILE DE ANIMALE VENINOASE DE PE TERITORIUL ROMÂNIEI

Iuliana CODREANU1) , Ștefania RAITA1) , Simona NICOLAE1) , M.D. CODREANU1),*)

Romania has an impressive variety of geographic România prezintă o varietate impresionantă de zo- areas, from imposing the Carpathian Mountains to ex- ne geografice, de la impunătorii Munți Carpați la vastele tended plains, steppes and the Danube Delta. All these câmpii, stepe și Delta Dunării. Toate acestea constituie, constitute, in fact, varied habitats for an important în fapt, habitate variate pentru un număr important de number of animal species. Among those species, we specii de animale. Printre aceste specii, întâlnim mai can find some remarkable representants of the veno- multe specii de animale veninoase, demne de remar- mous ' category. This review aims to present, cat. Această lucrare își propune să prezinte, într-o ma- in a succinct manner, the most important coordinates nieră succintă, cele mai importante coordonate privind about the venomous animal species that live on speciile de animale veninoase care trăiesc pe teritoriul Romania's territory. For this species, venom repre- României. Pentru aceste specii, veninul reprezintă o sents an important part of their elaborate defence me- componentă importantă a unui mecanism de apărare chanism, that has evolved through billions of years by elaborat, care a evoluat de-a lungul a miliarde de ani, natural selection. But for science and medicine, the prin selecție naturală. Cu toate acestea, pentru știință venom represents an active research topic. The ve- și medicină, veninul reprezintă un subiect activ de cer- nom research is conducted in many areas. Resear- cetare. Cercetările privind veninul se desfășoară în nu- chers from fields like medicine, biology, ecology, biodi- meroase domenii. Cercetători din domenii precum me- versity, toxicology and pharmacology form multidisci- dicina, biologia, ecologia, biodiversitatea, toxicologia și plinary teams, aiming to identify new therapeutic and farmacologia formează echipe multidisciplinare, cu biotechnological uses for the bioactive compounds in scopul de a identifica noi utilizări terapeutice și bioteh- animal venoms. nologice pentru compușii bioactivi din veninul acestor Key words: venom, venomous animal animale. species, Romania's fauna Cuvinte cheie: venin, specii de animale veninoase, fauna României

Depending on the animal species, each venom can venomous, namely: the Ursini's Viper (Vipera ursinii), have a distinct composition and can contain a different the Common European Adder (Vipera berus), and the mixture of chemical compounds used eighter for de- Nose-horned Viper (Vipera ammodytes). fence or the prey's attack. The chemicals found in va- Vipera ursinii or steppe viper is considered to be the ried proportions in animal venom can affect the circula- smallest viper in Europe,being a venomous, medium-size tory system, the muscles, or even the central nervous snake that belongs to the Squamata order, Serpentes system of the attacker or prey, depending on the case. suborder, Viperidae family, Vipera . Romania is one These chemical compounds are studied and have of the many European and Asian countries that are home proved to be extremely useful in various fields such as to this endangered species. Vipera ursinii is included on medicine, chemical industry, and biotechnology. the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species, being one of the most extinction endangered snake species in the SNAKES world, due to habitat destruction and climate changes. Vipera berus is a venomous snake species wide- The first representants of the venomous animal spread in Romania, but also in Europe. Currently, in Ro- species in Romania are snakes. Of the total of ten spe- mania, have been discovered three subspecies, namely: cies of snakes that live in Romania, only three are Vipera berus berus, Vipera berus bosniensis and Vipera berus nikolskii. This type of viper can be easily recog- 1) University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, nized by some morphological characteristics: triangular Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bucharest, Romania head, vertical reddish pupil, short tail, and a dark zigzag *) Corresponding author: [email protected] on the back. Sometimes completely black specimens can 90 Rev Rom Med Vet (2021) 31 | 2 also be found. Adults can reach lengths between 40 and dence is small, and the fatalities are rare (5). In Roma- 80 cm. Geographically, it can be found throughout the nia, by now, only three cases of people killed by the black Carpathian arc, in the adjacent hilly areas, and some widow's venom have been officially reported. areas in the north of the country. It is completely missing Romanian tarantula (Lycosa singoriensis) is a spe- in the south of the Romanian Plain and in Dobrogea (3). cies of tarantula that lives in the forest, steppe, and It is thought to have stronger venom than the horned semi-desert regions of Eastern Europe (e.g., Romania, viper, but in the case of a bite the dose of venom is much Republic of Moldova, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Au- lower than in the horned viper, many bites of the com- stria, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, and Bulgaria). Also, it mon viper being "dry" - the venom is not inoculated (1). can be found in Kazakhstan, Turkey, Mongolia, and Vipera ammodytes is a medium-sized snake, a- China. It belongs to the wolf spider family (Lycosidae), dults' size varying between 50 and 100 cm, with a cha- being also the largest species of spiders found on the racteristic back pattern - gray, brown or reddish color territory of Romania, with the female measuring on stained with dark diamond-shaped spots, the color average 25 mm - 35 mm, and the male measuring on varying depending on the habitat. It has a vertical pu- average 20 mm – 25 mm. It is a terrestrial species, pil and a short tail, with an orange or yellow-green tip. spending most of its time in galleries dug into the It can be found in Dobrogea and the southwest areas ground (6). The species prefers plain areas, flood- of Romania. Currently, there are known two subspe- plains with moist soil in which it can easily dig, are ca- cies that live in Romania: Transdanubian sand viper pable of migration, and are good swimmers, often (Vipera ammodytes montandoni), which is found in crossing large rivers. It is a dangerous venomous spe- Romania's south area and Bulgaria, and Western sand cies, the bite having effects like intense pain that lasts viper (Vipera ammodytes ammodytes), which is found about 24 hours after inoculation, intense local erythe- in the South-West area of the Banat Mountains, in matous reaction, alteration of the general condition Oltenia, in Hateg County and the South of the Apuseni translated by apathy and drowsiness (8). Currently, in Mountains. What mainly differentiates Vipera ammo- Romania, hasn't been recorded any case of death dytes ammodytes and Vipera ammodytes montandoni caused by the bite of this spider species. The tarantula is the ratio between the length and the width of the venom (Tarantula cubensis D6) has been used in the rostral areas of the body and the tail tip colour preparation of various drugs such as Theranekron D6 (orange-red for the first and green for the latter). The (2) which is widely used in Romania as a homeopathic venom for this species is hemotoxic and, by now, little drug with anti-tumour effects in veterinary medicine, known. Nevertheless, it is the most dangerous snake especially in veterinary oncology. species in Romania mainly due to a large amount of venom injected when it bites, compared to the other SCORPIONS two venomous snake species. The bite can have signi- ficant consequences: anaphylactic shock, edema, kid- Another category of venomous animals that can be ney blockage, necrosis, and other complications. found on the Romania's territory is the scorpions. The Carpathian scorpion (Euscorpius carpathicus) is an en- SPIDERS demic species, being the only species of scorpion in Ro- mania. It can be found mainly in the south-west region Another important category of venomous animal of the country (Banat and Oltenia). A small population species that live on the Romanian territory is the spi- was also found in Buzau County. More recent studies ders. Currently have been discovered an impressive have shown that these species exist in only two areas of number of spider species (over 900) that have habitat Romania: in the Banat Mountains and the Sub Carpa- in Romania, two of them being the most representa- thians of Curvature, due to climatic factors. Its venom is tive as they represent some of the most dangerous ve- not dangerous to humans, but if the person pricked with nomous animal species in our country. the needle in the tail is allergic to the venom, the conse- Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans), con- quences can be dangerous. Morphologically, this species sidered by scientists the spider with the most toxic ve- can present very varied coloration, some individuals ha- nom in the world, have been first discovered in 1963 in ving a black body and yellow-brown legs, others having Romania. Morphologically, it is pitch black, with red spots brown body and legs. The average length of adults varies on the abdomen. It can be rarely found in Romania, between 10 and 45 mm (4). It presents a robust body, especially in the Danube Delta and in the southern areas short and thin tail, strong pedipalps, and short legs. (near the Danube). It has become legendary especially for the female's (which is much larger than the male) ha- bit of devouring her mate after mating. The venom of Romania's territory is also the home for a large num- this species can be lethal, being similar to the venom of ber of species, among those some stand out, being the previously mentioned vipers, producing very serious venomous, potentially dangerous species. In the Roma- symptoms such as terrible pain, hypertension, irregular nian fauna, snakes, scorpions, and spiders are followed pulse, nausea, vomiting. Fortunately, the spider can ino- by frogs in the list of potentially toxic animals. The skin of culate only a small amount of venom - about a tenth of certain frogs contains poisonous substances that are the spider's glands capacity, therefore the mortality inci- dangerous in case of eye contact or ingestion. Rev Rom Med Vet (2021) 31 | 2 91

Common toad (Bufo bufo) is a tailless frog belonging with soap and water the hands and other areas with to the Bufonidae family found in wet areas through or- which the mucus has come in contact. chards, forests, crops, around human settlements. Geo- graphically it is widespread in north-west Africa, most of SALAMANDERS Europe and Asia, presenting several geographical sub- species. In Romania and the Republic of Moldova lives The salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is found the subspecies Bufo bufo bufo. In Romania, it is found in Romania throughout the Carpathian arc, as well as in from 300 m upwards, starting with the region of the hills, the adjacent mountain areas, in all regions of hills and to the border of the mountain forests, as well as in the mountains starting from 200 m altitude, except for the Transylvanian Plateau, without exceeding 1,800 m alti- Dobrogea area. It has an unmistakable appearance: tude. It is the largest frog found in Romania. Females are black skin with yellow or orange spots, the design having up to 13 cm long, being larger than males, that are up to a strong contrast. Salamanders are long-lived animals 8 cm. It has a voluminous, thick, and swollen body. As due to their slow metabolism. They have a variety of to- concerning the colour, it can vary from back to brown- xins in the skin. Salamander, like rough frogs, have two grey, to reddish-brown or dark brown, with or without parotoid glands located on the head, behind the eyes. In dark spots. The upper part of the body is often covered these two areas, the skin that covers them has small with warts of different sizes. It is a predominantly noc- perforations through which, by pressing, it releases a turnal species, with an effective defence mechanism a- milky-looking toxin, which becomes dangerous only if it gainst its predators: behind the eyes, on the head, it has is swallowed or comes into contact with the eyes (7). It two oval glands covered by skin with small perforations, should be noted that newts, their relatives, do not have which, by pressing, eliminate a milky white toxin with toxins in their skin, although some species have the ab- hallucinogenic properties. The toxin's effects are extre- domen as colourful as salamanders. The Salamandra sa- mely unpleasant, but intoxication doesn’t cause death. lamandra species is also called the fire salamander, being Also, the skin glands of warts secrete venomous sub- the most colourful species of all species of salamanders stances (bufotoxins) with which they defend themselves. and newts. It is a withdrawn creature, spending most of Green toad (Bufotes variabilis) is more closely related its time hidden in shady cracks, under logs, or in other relative of the brown frog, the green rough frog, has simi- places that provide protection and moisture. The colour lar skin, with protuberances similar to warts. This species should be a warning to predators, it has toxic black skin is also nocturnal, but because it is highly adapted to en- with yellow spots, with an elastic and slippery texture. vironmental conditions in Romania, it is much more en- The fire salamander has several rows of venomous countered in inhabited areas, gardens, and even in large glands behind its eyes. It has an average lifespan of 2-3 cities like Bucharest. The species has the same defence years. The body has an average length of 8-15 centi- mechanism, having a toxin stored in the glands behind metres and weighs a little above 100 grams. It feeds the eyes. Because it is an anthropophilic species, most mainly on earthworms, larvae and small invertebrates. often domestic carnivores are affected by the toxin, be- cause when this species' individuals are attacked and REFERENCES bitten by domestic carnivores, the toxin is automatically released and the victim can enter in convulsions. 1. Bates N., Edwards N., Seljetun K., Ruus-Lorentzen H., (2014), Vipera berus berus envenomation in dogs. Jour- The yellow-bellied spring (Bombina variegata) can nal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 24(2):133 be found in Romania in hills and mountain areas, the skin 2. Codreanu M.D., (2020), Veterinary Therapeutics, (Ed.) having a similar appearance to that of the previously Printech, Bucharest, Romania presented species, with small wart-like protuberances. It 3. Cogalniceanu D., Rozylowicz L., Szekely P., Samoila C., is easily recognizable by the heart-shaped iris. This small Stanescu F., Tudor M., Szekely D., Iosif R., (2013), Diver- frog has, unlike the other two species, a strong contras- sity and distribution of reptiles. ZooKeys, 34:49-76 ting colour on the abdomen - yellow with small black 4. Gherghel I., Sotek A., Papeş M., Strugariu A., Fusu A., dots - which signals that the skin contains toxins. There- (2016), Ecology and biogeography of the endemic scor- fore, unlike the other two species, the toxin is released pion Euscorpius carpathicus (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae): as mucus from the entire surface of the skin. a multiscale analysis. J. of Arachnology, 44(1):88-91 The Red-bellied spring (Bombina bombina) is a frog 5. Gibson D.M.,(1971),Latrodectus mactans, a study. British species very similar to the yellow-bellied spring, presen- Homoeopathic Journal, 60(1):108-111 ting a different ventral colour: black with small yellow, 6. Liu Z.H., Qian W., Li J.,Zhang Y., (2009), Biochemical and orange or reddish spots. As regarding the geographical pharmacological study of venom of the wolf spider Lycosa distribution in Romania, the red-bellied spring has a singoriensis. J Venom Anim Toxins Trop Dis, 15(1):79-92 slightly lower altitude distribution than the yellow-bellied 7. Vlad S., Cogalniceanu D., Bancila R., Stanescu F., (2020), springs, and as a particularity, in the habitats where the A case of color aberration in a fire salamander (Salaman- two species meet, hybrid specimens can also be seen. dra salamandra) . Herpetozoa, 33(1):213-215 Like in the other spring species, the toxin is released as 8. Yigit K., Nazife B., Danısman T., Sancak Z., Tel M.G., mucus from the entire surface of the skin. The toxin is (2009).Morphological characterization of the venom not deadly, but has unpleasant effects, leading to strong appa-ratus in the wolf spider Lycosa singoriensis. J Venom irritation, so it is recommended to immediately wash Anim Toxins Trop Dis, 15(1):146-156.