Vote for the beast that may be as ruthlessly predatory as us – the fen raft spider

The number of sustainable fen raft spider populations has increased from three to 12 in Britain, but they are still highly vulnerable to extinction. Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images/Alamy/Shutterstock

Meet an Olympian among Britain’s 660 spider species: a palm-of-the-hand-sized arachnid that hunts in three dimensions and can even devour fish.

The fen raft spider (Dolomedes plantarius) is a magnificent ambush predator: harmless to humans but lethal if you’re a pond skater, tadpole or even adult dragonfly.