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

    Vote for the beast that may be as ruthlessly predatory as us – the fen raft spider
    With a leg-span the size of your hand, the UK’s biggest spider, ultra-rare and known for its extraordinary hunting skills, has many admirersMore amazing nominations here!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.Arane
  • ‘She treats everyone with a deep growl’: can you train an angry cat to be more sociable?

    ‘She treats everyone with a deep growl’: can you train an angry cat to be more sociable?
    My kitten, Split, is terrified of people and not much fonder of other cats. Is there anything I could do to soothe her? I consulted the expertsMy cat Lucy, a blue Burmese, is the fluffiest, most adorable little feline in the world. She’s also the cattiest of all cats, an ill-tempered spawn of the underworld who takes arbitrary swipes at my other cats for having the temerity to exist.Lucy recently had a litter of three kittens. I don’t have kids of my own, but while helping with raisi

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