The spider was believed to be extinct. In fact, the only place it has previously been sighted is at Braken Bat Cave, a few miles from the construction site, but that was 30 years ago. Now, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) found a second one, by accident.
The limestone caves below Bexar County, Texas, house species that have been separated from our above-ground environment for so long that they have evolved into very unique critters. While the discovered species is closely related to eight other spider species in Bexar County, and others that live across Central Texas, the different varieties all have different internal organs and no-one is sure why.
Compliance with the Endangered Species Act will require one of two possible approaches. If uncovering the cave has not significantly affected the feeding, breeding or sheltering behavior of the spider, officials may change plans for the new highway interchange so the cave will be left unharmed. If the cave is damaged or a change in plans is not feasible, another cave with the same species of meshweaver must be found so that it can be protected elsewhere.
The majority of people probably wonder why all of this fuss over a silly spider. Scientists argue that, while we don't know what we could learn from it, it could be a lot. Once it is gone, however, that is irreversible and we may never know what we have lost.
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