Robber Baron cave meshweaver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robber Baron cave meshweaver |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cicurina
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| Species: |
baronia
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The Cicurina baronia is a very rare type of spider. It belongs to the Hahniidae family and is also called the Robber Baron cave meshweaver. This spider is found only in the San Antonio, Texas area of the United States. When a species is found only in one specific place, it's called endemic.
This spider is one of nine special creatures known as the Bexar County Invertebrates. All nine of these species live in similar cave environments in central Texas. They are quite small, ranging from just one millimetre to one centimetre in size. These unique spiders are also eyeless, or almost eyeless, and have a very pale color.
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Where Does the Robber Baron Cave Meshweaver Live?
The Bexar County Invertebrates, including the Cicurina baronia, are known as troglobites. This means they spend their entire lives deep underground. They live in special limestone caves and smaller cave systems called mesocaverns. So far, these species have only been found in the cave areas of Bexar County. These areas were officially named "critical habitats" for the species in 2012.
The C. baronia spider has only been found in two specific places: the Robber Baron Cave and another cave in Alamo Heights. The food sources in these dark cave environments include things like fallen leaves, animal waste, and dead animals. This shows how much the cave's ecosystem depends on what happens on the surface above. Troglobites also need steady temperatures and high humidity to survive. Cave temperatures are usually close to the average temperature outside, but they don't change much. The air inside these caves is almost always 100% humid.
Protecting This Rare Cave Spider
The Cicurina baronia is one of nine invertebrates that live only in the karst caves of Bexar County. These species were officially listed as endangered species by the government in the year 2000. All the Bexar County Invertebrates face serious dangers, but some have a better chance of recovery than others.
In 2011, a five-year review was published along with a plan to help these nine species recover. The overall endangered status of the species didn't change. However, it was suggested that the recovery priority for C. baronia and another species called Texella cokendolpheri be lowered. This means they are considered less likely to recover. The main reason for this lower priority is that C. baronia is known from only two caves. Also, these caves are in an area that has a lot of city development.
This spider faces major threats because its habitat is being destroyed by city growth and human activities near the cave entrances. Another danger comes from non-native fire ants. These ants share the same habitat and food sources as the spiders, which creates competition and risk.
What Threatens the Spiders' Home?
The biggest threat to the Cicurina baronia is the destruction and disturbance of its habitat. This is happening because of the high amount of city development in the areas around the caves. Some ways the habitat has been harmed include caves being filled with cement during construction. Also, quarrying activities (digging for stone) and sealing off cave entrances cause problems. These actions lead to a loss of the spiders' already small living space.
Too many people visiting the caves is also a threat, especially with so much city development around the entrances. However, groups like the Texas Cave Management Association and the Friends of Robber Baron are working to control how many people can go near the cave entrances. Changes to the surface habitat also affect the underground cave environment. Things like altered water flow and changes in the types of plants and animals above ground can harm the cave's health.
How Are We Helping Them Recover?
The current plan to help these spiders recover was made in September 2011. It applies to all nine Bexar County invertebrate species. The main goal of this plan is to protect the karst cave areas. This will help ensure these species can survive for a long time.
Protection efforts include keeping the caves and their entrances safe from human disturbances like construction and too many visitors. They also work to protect the spiders from non-native fire ants. Taking care of the surface habitat is also very important, as the underground home depends on it. The main home for C. baronia and several other Bexar County Invertebrates, Robber Baron Cave, is only open to the public during special events twice a year. This helps prevent more damage to their habitat.
One challenge in creating a recovery plan is that it's hard to know exactly how many of these spiders there are. Their habitat, small size, and behaviors make them very difficult to find and identify. Without knowing past or current population numbers, it's tough to figure out how much danger the species is in. It's also hard to know which conservation efforts will work best. The same recovery plan is used for all nine Bexar County Karst Invertebrates. This is because we don't know a lot about many of these species. Since many things about these species are unknown, more research is a very important part of the recovery plan. Learning more about their behaviors and habitats will help create more focused and helpful conservation efforts.
