'Lost' spider species rediscovered after 40 years

Aulonia albimana was last recorded in the UK in 1985

A critically endangered spider not seen in the UK for 40 years has been rediscovered.

Aulonia albimana, which was last recorded in the UK in 1985, was found at the National Trust's Newtown National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Wight.

The team that found the tiny orange-legged arachnid has informally named it the white-knuckled wolf spider.

Entomologist Mark Teller said: "To find a species thought lost for 40 years is thrilling - and testament to how the right habitat management, combined with curiosity and collaboration, can deliver remarkable results."

The nature reserve described the find as a "major conservation success".

Aulonia albimana was in a remote overgrown area of the reserve accessible only by boat, about 2km (1.2 miles) away from the spider's former colony.

Mr Teller, who found it with his colleague Graeme Lyons, called it "one of those unforgettable discoveries".

Mr Lyons said: "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."

Mr Teller said the name was also inspired by the distinctive pale "knuckles" on the small leg-like appendages at the side of the spider's mouth.

The team that found the tiny orange-legged arachnid have named it the white-knuckled wolf spider

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."

There are about 38 species of wolf spiders in the UK, named for their agile hunting skills, as they chase their prey along the ground and pounce on them.