Pholcidae - Physocyclus sp.
Family Pholcidae
Physocyclus sp. Size: 4 mm (body length only) Group Guild Status Eutroglophile Predator Common The pholcid spider occurs only in the entrance areas of the cave, but certainly completes its life cycle within the cave, and is therefore considered a Eutroglophile. We found this species in the Crinoid Room (just inside the historic Entrance Sink) and at the top of the Jackrabbit Shaft. They are active in the cave year-round. They construct their irregular webs among breakdown blocks in the collapse area of the sink. Due to the size of the entrance collapse and the large volume of air exchange this part of the cave is drier than any of the other surface connection areas. The pholcid spider is common in the man-made entrance tunnels to the cave, and is more common in the tunnel sections closer to the surface where prey is more abundant. The series of environmental doors leading to the tour portions of the cave has a cumulative effective in reducing surface invertebrate access to the cave, as one progresses deeper into the hill. The pholcid is a generalized predator of invertebrates that it traps in its web. The species is considered common where it occurs locally in the cave. |
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