Venomous Spiders of Turkey (Araneae)

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.