Tooth Cave Spider (Tayshaneta myopica) | Federally Endangered Karst Arachnid
The Tooth Cave spider (Tayshaneta myopica) is a nearly translucent, cave-dwelling arachnid that spends most of its life suspended beneath small, delicate sheet webs. Measuring just 1.6 mm (1/16 in), it is notoriously difficult to spot, though its delicate legs and body shimmer with a blue reflection under light. Its name, myopica, meaning "short-sighted," reflects its adaptation to total darkness, where vision is unnecessary. Found only in a few caves in Travis and Williamson counties, this endangered species faces threats from urban development that endanger its fragile limestone habitat. Listed as endangered in 1988, conservation efforts now focus on preserving these cave ecosystems to ensure its survival.
©Juliet Whitsett |Social: @juliet_whitsett_art Purchase prints: HERE
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Information generously reviewed by: Colin Strickland & Mark Sanders, City of Austin Balcones Canyonlands Preserve Environmental ScientistsCOLOR PALETTE SAMPLED FROM IMAGES OF THE TOOTH CAVE SPIDER (Coming Soon!)
IMAGE:
RANGE:
In 2012, Tayshaneta myopica was known from caves in Travis County and Williamson County to the northwest of Austin, Texas. Six locations were given on a distribution map for the species, although precise details of the locations have not been given, partly for conservation reasons. The caves occur in Edward's Plateau, a limestone ("karst") region of Central Texas. Tayshaneta spiders appear to spend most of their lives in their web, except for mature males. However, individuals of T. myopica from four nearby caves (Tooth Cave, Root Cave, Gallifer Cave and Tight Pit) have been shown to have identical mitochondrial and nuclear DNA haplotypes, suggesting that movement between the sites does take place. Individuals were seen suspended beneath low sheet webs, from which they dropped when disturbed.[5]
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth_Cave_spider
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_spider
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i2bLl-JMEE&t=23s