this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2025
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UK Nature and Environment

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Meet an Olympian among Britain’s 660 spider species: a palm-of-the-hand-sized arachnid that hunts in three dimensions and can even devour fish.

The fen raft spider (Dolomedes plantarius) is a magnificent ambush predator: harmless to humans but lethal if you’re a pond skater, tadpole or even adult dragonfly.

And, while it was almost driven to extinction in Britain like every other slightly scary species, this brilliantly ingenious hunter has made a remarkable comeback.

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