The striped fishing spider (Dolomedes scriptus) is found across North America and is known to catch and eat small fish. (Photo credit: Er1kksen, via Wikimedia Commons)
It’s known that some spiders can catch and eat small fish, but a new survey of worldwide sightings shows the phenomenon is more widespread than previously thought.
The survey found that spiders from up to five different families prey on fish, and that fish-eating spiders exist on every continent except Antarctica. One species, the striped fishing spider (Dolomedes scritpus) is widely distributed across eastern North America, including in Canada.
Original research paper published in the journal PLOS ONE on June 18, 2014.
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