# Cicurina madla

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Species of spider

Cicurina madla Conservation status Endangered (ESA) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Chelicerata Class: Arachnida Order: Araneae Infraorder: Araneomorphae Family: Cicurinidae Genus: Cicurina Species: C. madla Binomial name Cicurina madla Gertsch, 1992[1] Synonyms[1][2] Cicurina venii Gertsch, 1992

***Cicurina madla*** is a rare species of [spider](/source/Spider) in the family [Cicurinidae](/source/Cicurinidae),[1] known by the common name **Madla Cave meshweaver**. It is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [Texas](/source/Texas), United States, where it is known to originate from only eight or nine caves in [Bexar County](/source/Bexar_County%2C_Texas).[3] This is one of a small number of invertebrates endemic to the karst caves of Bexar County that were federally listed as [endangered species](/source/Endangered_species) in the year 2000.[4] Another spider from the caves was described as ***Cicurina venii***, and given the common name **Braken Bat Cave meshweaver**. In 2018, it was [synonymized](/source/Synonym_(taxonomy)) with *C. madla*.

## Description

*Cicurina madla* has no functional eyes. Females are cream-colored, with a body length of 4.8–6.7 mm, made up of a [cephalothorax](/source/Glossary_of_spider_terms#cephalothorax) 2.3–3.3 mm long and 1.5–2.3 mm wide and an [abdomen](/source/Glossary_of_spider_terms#abdomen) 2.5–3.4 mm long and 1.5–2.1 mm wide. The fourth leg has the longest femur, 2.5–3.4 mm long. The [spermathecae](/source/Glossary_of_spider_terms#spermatheca) are elongated.[5] Males have a [palpal bulb](/source/Palpal_bulb) with a relatively narrow, elongated [cymbium](/source/Glossary_of_spider_terms#cymbium) and an oblong [tegulum](/source/Glossary_of_spider_terms#tegulum).[2]

Cokendolpher in 2004 constructed a "troglomorphy index" (TI) defined as the ratio of the sum of the lengths of the femur, patella and tibia of the first leg to the length of the cephalothorax. Higher values of the index indicate relatively longer legs and are associated with a troglodytic life-style.[5] *C. madla*, including the specimen described as *C. venii*, produced ratios above 2.0, except for small immatures.[5][2] *C. madla* can be distinguished from *Cicurina* species occurring in the same area by its TI index, as well as by genetic data and the structure of the female spermatheca or the male palpal bulb.[2]

## Taxonomy

*Cicurina madla* was first described by [Willis J. Gertsch](/source/Willis_J._Gertsch) in 1992.[1][6] In the same paper, Gertsch described a spider as *Cicurina venii*, giving its sole location as Braken Bat Cave (not the same cave as [Bracken Cave](/source/Bracken_Cave) in Comal County, Texas). Only two specimens assigned to *C. venii* were ever collected, but one is now lost. The entrance to Braken Bat Cave has been filled in, and the cave cannot currently be accessed. It is located on private property.[7] A study of *Cicurina* spiders from Texas caves in 2018 concluded that the sole known specimen of *C. venii* belongs to the same species as *C. madla*, and synonymized them. The authors of the study suggested that either the specimen described as *C. venii* was in fact from Government Canyon Bat Cave, but was mislabeled or placed into an incorrect vial, or it was from Braken Bat Cave, and so represents a further southern extension of the range of *C. madla*.[2] The synonymy is accepted by the [World Spider Catalog](/source/World_Spider_Catalog).[1]

## Ecology and conservation

The Bexar County karst cave invertebrates are [troglobites](/source/Troglobite), 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 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](/source/Red_imported_fire_ant).[3]

In August 2012, a spider assigned to this species was found in a 6-foot-deep natural hole in Northwest [San Antonio](/source/San_Antonio), halting completion of a $15-million highway underpass.[8] Biologists have identified at least 19 cave features in the area, at least five of which could contain more.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WSC_s8997_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WSC_s8997_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WSC_s8997_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-WSC_s8997_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-WSC_s8997_1-4) ["Taxon details *Cicurina madla* Gertsch, 1992"](https://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/species/8997). *World Spider Catalog*. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2021-01-09.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HediDerkBlaiPaqu18_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HediDerkBlaiPaqu18_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-HediDerkBlaiPaqu18_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-HediDerkBlaiPaqu18_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-HediDerkBlaiPaqu18_2-4) Hedin, M.; Derkarabetian, S.; Blair, J. & Paquin, P. (2018). "Sequence capture phylogenomics of eyeless *Cicurina* spiders from Texas caves, with emphasis on US federally-endangered species from Bexar County (Araneae, Hahniidae)". *ZooKeys* (769): 49–76. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2018ZooK..769...49H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018ZooK..769...49H). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3897/zookeys.769.25814](https://doi.org/10.3897%2Fzookeys.769.25814). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [6030207](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6030207). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [29988790](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29988790).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-TNC_Cm_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-TNC_Cm_3-1) ["*Cicurina madla* Madla Cave Meshweaver"](http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Cicurina+madla). *NatureServe Explorer*. NatureServe. Retrieved 2021-01-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-USFWS_4-0)** USFWS (May 16, 2008). ["Draft Bexar County Karst Invertebrates Recovery Plan"](https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2008-05-16/pdf/E8-10996.pdf#page=1) (PDF). *Federal Register*. **73** (96): 28494–28495. Retrieved 2021-01-10.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Coke04_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Coke04_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Coke04_5-2) Cokendolpher, J.C. (2004). "*Cicurina* spiders from caves in Bexar County, Texas (Araneae: Dictynidae)". *Texas Memorial Museum Speleological Monographs*. **6**: 13–58.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Gert92_6-0)** Gertsch, W.J. (1992). "istribution patterns and speciation in North American cave spiders with a list of the troglobites and revision of the cicurinas of the subgenus *Cicurella*". *Texas Memorial Museum Speleological Monographs*. **3**: 75–122.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2022). ["Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife"](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/08/24/2022-18228/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-removing-the-braken-bat-cave-meshweaver-from-the-list). *Federal Register*. US Government. Retrieved 2024-02-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Davi12_8-0)** Davila, Vianna (September 8, 2012). ["Tiny spider is a big roadblock"](http://www.mysanantonio.com/living_green_sa/article/Tiny-spider-is-a-big-roadblock-3849198.php). mysanantonio. Retrieved 2012-09-10.

Taxon identifiers Cicurina madla Wikidata: Q2049170 Wikispecies: Cicurina madla BugGuide: 1320807 ECOS: 2467 EoL: 1201027 GBIF: 2144452 iNaturalist: 216975 IRMNG: 10027394 ITIS: 876193 NatureServe: 2.1216223 NCBI: 296698 WSC: urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:022165

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cicurina madla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicurina_madla) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicurina_madla?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.