Cicurina madla
Cicurina madla is a rare species of spider in the family Dictynidae known by the common name Madla Cave meshweaver. It is endemic to Texas, United States, where it is known to originate from only eight caves in Bexar County.[1] This is one of nine invertebrates endemic to the karst caves of Bexar County that were federally listed as endangered species in the year 2000.[2]
| Cicurina madla | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Hahniidae |
| Genus: | Cicurina |
| Species: | C. madla |
| Binomial name | |
| Cicurina madla Gertsch, 1992 | |
The Bexar County karst cave invertebrates are troglobites, species that spend their entire lives in subterranean environments. The current status of the invertebrates is difficult to assess because their habitats are largely inaccessible and the animals themselves are small and cryptic. The threats to all nine species are the same: habitat loss when the caves are filled in or quarried, and habitat degradation via pollution, alterations in water flow, and direct human interference. Some caves are infested with the red imported fire ant.[1]
References
- Cicurina madla. The Nature Conservancy.
- USFWS. Draft Bexar County Karst Invertebrates Recovery Plan. Federal Register May 16, 2008.