A critically endangered wolf spider, the Aulonia albimana, was discovered on a remote nature reserve in the United Kingdom after being unseen for 40 years.
The last recorded sighting of the spider in the UK was in the National Trust’s Newtown nature reserve on the Isle of Wight in 1985.
The latest sighting of the orange-legged spider, informally named the white-knuckled wolf spider, was part of a search organized by entomologists Mark Telfer and Graeme Lyons.
Telfer said that locating the creature was "one of those unforgettable discoveries."
"To find a species thought lost for 40 years is thrilling - and a testament to how the right habitat management, combined with curiosity and collaboration, can deliver remarkable results," he said.
How does an Aulonia albimana hunt?
There are an estimated 38 species of wolf spiders living in the UK, which take their name from the mammalian predator thanks to their impressive hunting skills. The spiders chase their prey along the ground before pouncing on it, much like a wolf.
However, the National Trust noted that little is known about the hunting style of the Aulonia albimana, which is particularly known for its weak webbing.
Lyons shared, "I suggested calling it the white-knuckled wolf spider because this was probably the longest long shot I've ever taken part in. We had just four hours at the site where this spider was last seen 40 years ago, before our boat came to pick us up. I found the first one with just nine minutes to go, and the second one in the last minute.
"I've seen 559 species of spider in the British Isles and this one was by far the most exciting find."
Dr. Helen Smith, Conservation Officer for the British Arachnological Society, said, “The remarkable discovery of this dapper little spider on the Isle of Wight is one of Britain’s epic 'lost species' rediscoveries of the century. With repeated failure to find it at its former sites, where its open habitat has been lost, it seemed increasingly likely that it had joined the country’s sad list of extinct species.
“Graeme's and Mark's dedicated enthusiasm and meticulous search, together with vital habitat restoration work undertaken by the National Trust, shows that the White-knuckled Wolf Spider not only had a place to hang on, but hopefully one in which it can now thrive. We look forward to working with the National Trust to establish the full extent of the population and determine the conditions it needs to expand its range and secure its future.”