This Newly-Discovered Australian Spider Is Called Brian - And He Likes To Surf

The one thing arachnophobes don’t need in the world is yet another species of spider so they will no doubt not be celebrating the discovery of a new giant that swims.

However, you shouldn’t be too alarmed as it is not a danger to humans - and goes by the name of Brian.

Named after string theorist and World Science Festival co-ordinator Professor Brian Greene, the dolomedes briangreenei is yet another giant of the arachnid world that can be found in Australia.

And this one surfs above the surface of the water, waiting for its prey before going in for the kill.

Swimmer: Brian sits on the water as it waits for dinner (Queensland Museum)

Robert Raven, Principal Scientist of Arachnology at the Queensland Museum, told Mashable: “These spiders sit there on the water and then all of a sudden an insect will hit the water and the spider races out to get it, grabs it, dives under the water and then swims back to the shore and starts eating it.”

While not a threat to humans, the spider’s bite does sting a bit and it can kill fish and cane toads that are three times its size.

But who could be scared of anything called Brian?!

Top pic: Queensland Museum