Tooth Cave Pseudoscorpion (Tartarocreagris texana) | Federally Endangered Arachnid
Hidden deep within the limestone caves of western Travis County, Texas, the Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion (Tartarocreagris texana) is a tiny yet formidable predator. Measuring just 4 mm (5/32") long, this eyeless arachnid thrives in total darkness, using its sharp pincers to capture small prey like tiny cave cricket nymphs. As a troglobite—an organism that lives exclusively underground—it is uniquely adapted to the karst environments of the Jollyville Plateau. However, habitat destruction and fragmentation from urban development threaten its survival. Protecting both its subterranean home and the surface ecosystems that sustain it is crucial, and conservation efforts with landowners and local governments can help ensure this rare species endures.
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©Juliet Whitsett |Social: @juliet_whitsett_art Purchase prints: HERE
Information generously reviewed by:Colin Strickland & Mark Sanders, City of Austin Balcones Canyonlands Preserve Environmental ScientistsCOLOR PALETTE SAMPLED FROM IMAGES OF THE TOOTH CAVE PSEUDOSCORPION (Coming Soon!)
IMAGE:
RANGE:
The Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion is only confirmed in two caves: Tooth Cave and Amber Cave, in Travis County, Texas. The caves span the Balcones Canyonlands, ranging from eastern to southeastern Edwards Plateau.[2] Generally keeping to the caves, the Tooth Cave pseudoscorpions have a range of approximately 1 km from the caves before the environment becomes unsuitable for them to live.[12] The caves are currently in peril of falling in due to the urbanization of the local communities, so the populations may shrink in the near future.[13]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth_Cave_pseudoscorpion
BIODIVERSITY OF TEXAS SERIES:
With approximately 90 state and federal endangered species and 140 threatened species in Texas, Whitsett’s work underscores the urgency of conservation while emphasizing that protection is still possible.
Through the process of developing species-derived color palettes sampled from crowd-sourced images, Whitsett creates original artworks that draw inspiration from these distinctive palettes, as well as the lives and forms of the rarest and most at-risk. Collaborating closely with scientists and leading experts, she continually seeks to deepen her understanding of these species, contributing to both environmental education and conservation.
Juliet Whitsett is an Austin-based artist and environmental advocate specializing in biodiversity, ecological storytelling, and public engagement. Through research-driven art, she makes scientific knowledge accessible, inspiring awareness and action for the natural world.
SOURCES:
Personal communication with Colin Strickland and Mark Sanders
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth_Cave_pseudoscorpion
https://www.fws.gov/species/tooth-cave-pseudoscorpion-tartarocreagris-texana