Six-spotted Fishing Spider (Dolomedes triton)
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While many species of spiders may hunt near water, most of them make contact with the liquid only by accident. The Six-spotted Fishing Spider is more adapted to aquatic life, spending almost all its time on the water or in the partially submerged vegetation. In spite of their large size (up to 3/4 inch in length), these spiders can float on the surface tension, as well as retreat underwater if danger threatens. They hunt insects, tadpoles and small fish.
It is difficult to discern the six spots that give the spider its name. There are often four very distinct spots and several smaller ones on the abdomen. Young spiders may be rather light in color, while mature individuals have well-defined stripes along their cephalothorax and white spots on the abdomen. Older large females are occasionally almost solid brown and the side stripes are yellowish. The abdominal spots are very small. Such a variation is shown below.
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class: Arachnida / order: Araneae / family: Pisauridae / genus: Dolomedes / species: triton
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