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.

  • harrys_balzac@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    122·
    3 months ago

    The article is very poorly written. Saying they can grow to the size of a mans hand? Good thing that all men have the same size hands.

    • 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.

    • cows_are_underratedEnglish
      7·
      3 months ago

      Their webs grow up to 25cm in diameter, but they themselves are much smaller(up to 8cm)

    • SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      5·
      3 months ago

      Plus the article is referring to total leg span as its size, where many people are thinking of the size of the spider’s body. They’re not very big, nowhere near the size of most tarantulas. They’re so small and light they can literally walk on water.