A UK spider that was feared extinct has been found for the first time in 27 years.
One of Britain's largest spiders, the great fox spider was listed as 'critically endangered' and had not been seen anywhere in the UK since 1993.
But on Saturday a cluster of great-fox spiders was found by wildlife research manager Mike Waite at a Ministry of Defence training area in Surrey.
"After two years searching with a torch at night, he discovered some unidentifiable immature spiderlings," Surrey Wildlife Trust reports.
"At last, he discovered several mature males and one female great-fox spider, which was 55mm in diameter including its hairy, spiny legs.
"The last of the great fox-spiders have been saved from extinction thanks to The Ministry of Defence and ARCTrust conservation."
Despite their huge size, the spiders are difficult to spot because of their camouflage features.
Great fox-spiders have excellent eyesight and wrap-around vision with eight black eyes on its head: two large eyes glint on top, two at the front and four smaller eyes above its mouth.
The predator is known to chase down beetles, ants and smaller spiders before injecting them in deadly venom.
Great-fox spiders pose no risks to humans.
