Latin name: Dolomedes triton
This is a Six-spotted fishing spider. Fishing spiders are also referred to as Nursery-web spiders. Fishing spiders hang out along the edge of still or slow moving water in areas that provide lots of cover (i.e. lots of grass or rushes). They have a varied diet and are able to take down prey as large as small frogs. They can skate along the surface of the water in a manner that looks similar to that of a water strider. If you disturb a Fishing spider it will skate out into the water then return to the shore, tracing a u-shaped pathway. Janneke enjoyed this behaviour and initiated it a few times. We found this specimen along the Grand river at the Elora Gorge conservation area.
