Raft Spider

Name: Raft Spider

Scientific name: Dolomedes fimbriatus

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 60

What are nature stars?

About: A large, chunky spider. The Raft Spider lives around the edge of ponds and swamps. Adults sit at the edge of the water or on floating vegetation, with their front legs resting on the water to feel for vibrations. They chase out onto the water surface to catch their prey, which will even include tadpoles or small fish. Raft Spiders will also swim underwater.

How to identify: A large spider, rich chocolate brown with a pale yellow stripe running down each side of the body.

Where: Widespread but scarce

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 90
• Agility: 90
• Rarity: 70
• Cute factor: 10
• Traveller: 20

Fantastic fact: The much rarer Fen Raft Spider is similar, but is only known from two places in Britain (one a Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve!)

Photograph credit: Hants & IOW Wildlife Trust