The Dark Fishing Spider: Dangerous or Misunderstood? #spider #animal #wildlife

One of the largest and (admittedly) spookiest looking spiders in NC, the dark fishing spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus) is an impressive arachnid!

The largest females can reach legspans approaching four inches across, and as spiders that do not spin webs, these long and powerful legs are used to run or leap atop potential prey items.

As the name of the fishing spider family would suggest, fully grown adults of this species are capable of hunting small fish, frogs, and other aquatic organisms.

Their diverse diet and voracious appetite makes fishing spiders important predators that keep prey populations in check, but also important prey items for higher trophic level consumers such as birds or small reptiles.

Despite their size and intimidating appearance, these are docile spiders that rarely bite even when handled and do not possess medically significant venom.

Learn more about these amazing arachnids in the latest episode of The Wild Report YouTube!
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"How many are your works, Lord? In wisdom you made them all, the earth is full of your creatures.:
Psalms 104:24

Видео The Dark Fishing Spider: Dangerous or Misunderstood? #spider #animal #wildlife канала The Wild Report