Journal of Applied Biological Sciences 1 (3): 33-36, 2007 Venomous Spiders of Turkey (Araneae) Abdullah BAYRAM1* Nazife YİĞİT1 Tarık DANIŞMAN1 İlkay ÇORAK1 Zafer SANCAK1 Derya ULAŞOĞLU2 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, University of Kırıkkale, 71450 Kırıkkale, TURKEY 2 Vera Pest Control, Ulus, İstanbul, TURKEY * Corresponding Author Received: 26 May 2006 e-mail: [email protected] Accepted: 25 October 2006 Abstract Over 50.000 species have been described on the world. Among them about 100 species are dangerous for human. Members of Latrodectus and Loxosceles share the habitats of human beings. Chemically, spider venom is heterogeneous, and contains poly peptide, poly amine, nucleic acid, free amino acid, monoamine, neurotoxin, enzyme and inorganic elements. In enzymes, proteases, hyaluronidase, sphingo-myelinase, phospholipase and isomerase form necrosis. Venom is neurotoxic, and it causes paralysis. In Turkey, some species of Latrodectus, Steatoda, Loxosceles, Cheiracanthium, Segestria, Agelena, Tegenaria, Araneus and Argiope are venomous. The specimens that collected from different habitats and localities of Turkey were examined under stereo microscope. They were identified as species level, and the venom organs of some spiders were investigated morphologically with the light and electron microscope. Key words: Spider, Venom, Turkey, Araneae. INTRODUCTION The aim of this article is to explain the venomous spiders, and inform their habitats and distributions in Turkey. About 50.000 species have been described on the world. All of the spiders have venom glands except the members of MATERIAL AND METHODS Uloboridae and Archaeidae. Preys of spiders are insects, other arthropods and invertebrates, and from vertebrates small fishes, The specimens were collected from different habitats frogs, lizards, birds and even mammalians such as mice. Among and localities in Northeast Blacksea Region, East Anatolia, spiders, nearly 100 species can affect human beings and big Southeast Anatolia, Central Anatolia and Mediterranean Region mammalians with their venom. Envenomation with spider bites in the period of 1993-2005. The specimens were examined call as “araneism”. under stereo microscope, identified as species level, and venom In spiders, the venom organs take place anterior of prosoma, organs of some spiders were morphologically investigated with and they consist of a pair of glands, a pair of fangs on apical the light and electron microscope (SEM, TEM) [3,11,12,13]. of the chelicerae and a pair of canals that lie from the glands Keys of Heimer and Nentwig [5], Roberts [6], Tyschenko [14] through the chelicera to the tip of the fangs [1, 2, 3 ]. were used in identification. The specimens were preserved at Venomous species of Latrodectus, Loxosceles, Phoneutria, the Zoological Research Laboratory of Kırıkkale University. Atrax and Hadronyche share the habitats such as baths, toilets, garages, workshops, as well as living rooms [4]. They live also RESULTS on or in fences, stack of woods, huts and walls [5,6]. Venomous spider’s groups of Turkey can be arranged as Spider venom are mainly in two characters; neurotoxic and follow: necrotoxic. Neurotoxins cause paralysis the nerves system in arthropods and vertebrates. Necrotoxins form ulcer and heavy Black Widows (Theridiidae): The most venomous spider destruction in the issue [7,8]. Also, the venom damages the of the world is Latrodectus mactans (Fabricius, 1775) (Fig. 1). LD is 0,05 mg/kg in mice (i.v.). It is a holarctic species. It muscle system and blood cells, cause breathe difficulty and 50 death. Venom of some species is fifteen time effective than has been seen in most of the Mediterranean countries but not venom of a wiper. In addition, some venomous of spiders can yet in Turkey. Every year, many cattle have been lost by these leave and circulate for two years in human body. spiders in Russian steppes. Its venom is neuro and cyto toxic. L. tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790) called as “Mediterranean Spider venom is chemically heterogeneous, and contains black widow” has been recorded from Istanbul, Ankara, polypeptide, poly amine, nucleic acid, free amino acid, Adana, Mardin, Erciş and Kars (Fig. 2). LD50 is 0.013 mg/ monoamine, neurotoxin, enzyme and inorganic elements. mice (13-17 g), 0.032 mg/rat (50-60 g). It shows Palaearctic Among enzymes, protease, hyaluronidase, sphingo-myelinase, distribution. This spider built its web on huts, coops, stacks of phospholipase and isomerase form necrosis [9,10,2]. woods and stones. From steatods (spiders with globe abdomen) Steatoda grossa (Koch CL, 1838) (Fig. 3) and S. paykulliana Violin Spiders (Loxoscelidae): that of loxoscelism. In Gnaphosidae, the Loxosceles rufescens (Dufour, 1820) (Fig. 4). species Nomisia aussereri (Koch L,1872 ) It is dangerous. It likes cellars huts; and in Liocranidae, the species Liocranum workshops etc., and go into shoes, boots and annulipes Kuczynski, 1897 are dangerous. jump suit. Also, it is hided under cardboards, panels and pictures on walls. In North 34 A. Bayram et al / JABS, 1 (3):America, 33-36, 2007more than 80 percent of the spider bites are because of this species. The venom (Walckenaer, 1806) are dangerous. They can be seen in many formsViolin Spidersa button (Loxoscelidae): first. The swellingLoxosceles recedes rufescens protease, hyaluronidase, sphingo-myelinase, places in Turkey. (Dufour,and 1820)turns (Fig.a reddish 4). It is dangerous.reaction Itarea likes (lesion).cellars huts; phospholipaseprotease, hyaluronidase, and isomerase sphingo-myelinase, form necrosis workshopsThen itetc., transforms and go into a shoes, necrosis boots (gangrene, and jump suit. Fig. Also, protease,[9,10,2].phospholipase hyaluronidase, and isomerase sphingo-myelinase, form necrosis it is5). hided This under species cardboards, was panelsseen inand Mardin, pictures onMu walls.÷la, In phospholipase[9,10,2].The aim of and this isomerase article is formto explain necrosis the NorthHatay America, and more Elbistan than 80 percent(Kahramanmara of the spiderú ).bitesL. are [9,10,2]. becausereclusa of this Gertschspecies. The & venom Mulaik, forms a button1940 first.that The venomousThe aim spiders, of this and article inform is to their explain habitats the distributed in North and South America, the The aim of this article is to explain the swelling recedes and turns a reddish reaction area (lesion). Then andvenomous distributions spiders, in Turkey.and inform their habitats it transformsPacific a necrosisIslands, (gangrene, Africa Fig. 5). andThis speciessome was venomousand distributions spiders, in andTurkey. inform their habitats seenMediterranean in Mardin, Muğla, countries Hatay and Elbistanis more (Kahramanmaraş). dangerous. andMATERIAL distributions AND in Turkey. METHODS L. reclusaBesides Gertsch of necrosis& Mulaik, 1940its venomthat distributed can causein North MATERIALThe specimens AND METHODSwere collected from and haemolysis,South America, disorder the Pacific ness Islands,in coagulation Africa and and some Fig 5. Gangrene MATERIALdifferentThe habitatsspecimens AND and METHODS werelocalities collected in Northeast from Mediterraneandeath. Dispersion countries is moreof L. dangerous. rufescens Besides from of necrosis the The specimens were collected from its venomSouth can America cause haemolysis, and Africa disorder to the ness northern in coagulation is Blackseadifferent habitatsRegion, andEast localities Anatolia, in SoutheastNortheast and bydeath. planes Dispersion and ships. of L. rufescens from the South America differentAnatolia,Blacksea habitats Region,Central and East localities Anatolia,Anatolia in NortheastSoutheast and and Africa to the northern is by planes and ships. BlackseaMediterraneanAnatolia, Region, CentralRegion East in Anatolia, theAnatolia period Southeast of 1993-and Anatolia,2005.Mediterranean The specimensCentral Region werein theAnatolia examinedperiod of 1993-underand Mediterraneanstereo2005. microscope,The specimens Region identified inwere the examinedperiodas species of 1993- underlevel, Fig 1. Latrodectus mactans 2005.andstereo venom Themicroscope, specimens organs identified ofwere some examined as spidersspecies under level,were Fig 1. Latrodectus mactans stereomorphologicallyand venom microscope, organs investigated identified of some as with speciesspiders the level, werelight FigureFig 1. 1. Latrodectus Latrodectus mactansmactans andandmorphologically venomelectron organs microscopeinvestigated of some (SEM,withspiders the TEM) werelight morphologically[3,11,12,13].and electron Keys microscopeinvestigated of Heimer (SEM,with and theNentwig TEM)light and[5],[3,11,12,13]. Robertselectron [6], Keys microscopeTyschenko of Heimer [14](SEM, and were Nentwig usedTEM) in [3,11,12,13].identification.[5], Roberts [6],Keys The Tyschenko specimensof Heimer [14] were and were preservedNentwig used in [5],atidentification. theRoberts Zoological [6], The Tyschenko specimensResearch [14] wereLaboratory were preserved used inof Fig 6. Cheiracanthium mildei identification.Kat rthekkale Zoological University. The specimensResearch wereLaboratory preserved of atK rthekkale Zoological University. Research Laboratory of Hunter Spiders Oxyopes lineatus Krkkale University. Latreille, 1806 (Lynx spider, (Oxyopidae); RESULTS Lycosa tarantula (Linnaeus, 1758), L. RESULTSVenomous spider’s groups of Turkey can FigureFig 4. Loxosceles Loxosceles rufescens rufescens narbonensis Latreille, 1806 and L. RESULTSbe arrangedVenomous as follow:spider’s groups of Turkey can singoriensis