One of Britain’s rarest spiders found lurking in Highgate Cemetery
One of Britain’s largest and rarest spiders has been discovered in the capital for the first time – lurking in the vaults of Highgate Cemetery.
Some 100 species of the Meta Bourneti were found in the darkest reaches of the 1830s Egyptian Avenue, during a bat survey carried out by the London Wildlife Trust last month.
The spiders require total darkness, so the sealed tombs in the cemetery have proved a perfect breeding ground.
A spokeswoman for the trust said the spiders, which measure 30mm in diameter, could have been living down in the sealed vaults for up to 150 years without anyone knowing.
Tony Canning, project leader, said: “The discovery of this important spider population in the heart of London shows just how valuable cemeteries such as Highgate can be in providing refuges for wildlife.”
You may also want to watch:
During the trust’s survey of the historic cemetery, experts uncovered 227 species of flora and fauna which have not been recorded in London before.
Most Read
- 1 Camden's Levertons to arrange the funeral of Prince Philip on April 17
- 2 Primrose Hill to close at night this weekend after antisocial behaviour
- 3 The questions council 'must answer' after spending £23m on £10m office
- 4 Hampstead, Highgate and Primrose Hill beer gardens reopening on April 12
- 5 Calls for law change after Highgate School sexual abuse allegations
- 6 Arteta: Arsenal have 'responsibility' to qualify for Europe
- 7 This destruction of a woodland site must be halted
- 8 Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Wait for second verdict could last 'until Easter'
- 9 How a 'terrifying' Hampstead spree of robberies was brought to an end
- 10 Camden men jailed for rape of teenager targeted by Tube station
