Up to 3,750 female fen raft spiders believed to be at 12 sites across the UK now

The UK’s largest breed of spiders, which can grow to the size of rats and hunts fish, are making a comeback in Britain.

From near-extinction in 2010 - when only a handful remained as their wetland homes were destroyed by humans - the number of fen raft spiders are now steadily increasing thanks to recent conservation efforts.

The spiders are set to have their best year on record at nature reserves ran by RSBP.

  • tobogganablaze@lemmus.orgEnglish
    11·
    3 months ago

    It’s also not the “The UK’s largest breed of spiders”. If they are going by legspan (which they have to do to get anywhere near hand size) then Tegenaria parietina has it easily beaten.