Name: Raft Spider
Scientific name: Dolomedes fimbriatus
Category: Minibeasts
Nature Stars: 60
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
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
Click the 'Add to my spotting sheet' button on any wildlife item page. Login or register to start creating your own spotting sheets.