A rare spider thought to be extinct in the UK has been rediscovered on the Isle of Wight, delighting conservationists.
The Aulonia albimana, now nicknamed the white-knuckled wolf spider for its pale leg joints and the tense search that found it, was spotted at the National Trust’s Newtown national nature reserve — an area only reachable by boat.
The tiny orange-legged spider, last seen in 1985, was discovered by entomologists Mark Telfer and Graeme Lyons with just minutes left before their pickup. “To find a species thought lost for 40 years is thrilling,” said Telfer.
The rediscovery was made in grassland restored through grazing by Hebridean sheep, which maintain the open, sunny habitat the spider prefers.
Conservationists hailed the find as one of Britain’s most remarkable wildlife rediscoveries. Efforts will now focus on surveying the population and ensuring the species’ long-term survival.
