Prey specificity, comparative lethality and compositional differences of coral snake venoms

Area of Science:

• * Herpetology
• * Toxicology
• * Biochemistry

Background:

• * Coral snakes (Micrurus sp.) exhibit diverse venom compositions.
• * Understanding venom toxicity and enzymatic activity is crucial for evolutionary and ecological studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To investigate the toxicities and enzymatic activities of Micrurus venoms.
• * To correlate venom properties with the natural prey preferences of different Micrurus populations.
• * To compare Micrurus venom profiles with related elapid and crotalid species.

Main Methods:

• * Toxicity assays were performed on laboratory mice and native prey animals.
• * Enzymatic activities of venoms were analyzed (23 activities).
• * Prey preferences were determined through stomach content analysis and literature review.
• * Cluster analysis was used to group venom enzymatic activities.

Main Results:

• * Micrurus venoms were generally more toxic to their natural prey than to non-prey species.
• * Prey susceptibility to venom was highest when the venom came from snakes that preyed on them.
• * Venom toxicity varied significantly by administration route (i.v. > i.p. > i.m.).
• * Cluster analysis revealed distinct venom profiles, with fish-eating Micrurus sp. surinamensis showing significant divergence.
• * Ophiophagous (snake-eating) and amphisbaenian-eating Micrurus formed distinct clusters, related to outgroup species.

Conclusions:

• * Prey preference is the primary driver of venom composition evolution in Micrurus.
• * Venom adaptation to specific prey enhances predatory success.
• * Enzymatic profiles reflect dietary specialization and evolutionary relationships within the Elapidae family.