Endangered Spider Halts San Antonio Highway Project

An endangered species of spider was traced in the Northwest San Antonio (Texas) two weeks ago. This eyeless spider called the Braken Bat cave meshweaver is considered an endangered species and has not been seen in more than three decades.

This discovery has put on hold the $15 million underpass project that was in progress at State Highway 151 and Loop 1604.  This specie was noticed by biologist Jean Krejca from the firm Zara Environmental, after the rain uncovered a 6 feet deep natural hole in the highway median.

According to the French Tribune after Krejca confirmed that the spider, though not known to be venomous to humans, was indeed the endangered Braken Bat Cave meshweaver, the construction on the highway project - which began in April - was halted for an indefinite period.

"Biologists have been working alongside construction crews from the start because this area is known for its abundance of natural resources, including songbirds and rare cave animals, like the spiders," Stirling J. Robertson, biology team leader for Texas Department of Transportation environmental affairs division was quoted in  mysanantonio.com.

To find a Braken Bat Cave meshweaver was a discovery of another kind altogether, akin to "stumbling on a new Galapagos Island in terms of the biological significance of the region," Krejca was quoted in mysanantonio.com.

It is reported by the biologists that the hole where the spider was discovered is being covered in order to maintain the temperature and humidity. The eyeless spider has been on the federal endangered species list since 2000, and the habitat is projected.