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.

    • DoctorButts
      link
      fedilink
      1430 days ago

      Spider meat burritos are about to get even more affordable in the UK, seriously I can’t wait

      • @werefreeatlast
        link
        English
        529 days ago

        …3 more spideritos please! And a side of legs! Fried!

    • skeletorfw
      link
      English
      1129 days ago

      This is good, I promise! Unless you’re an arachnophobe who made their home literally in a fen I guess…

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    1030 days 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.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      11
      edit-2
      30 days 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.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      529 days 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.