Marine biologists have described two previously unknown sea spider species pulled from the waters of the Salish Sea, the strait system separating British Columbia from Washington state, marking the first new sea spiders documented there in almost 100 years, according to UBC News.
The numbers
Researchers collected the specimens during scuba dives conducted between September 2023 and August 2024, at depths of up to 18 meters (59 feet). The first species, Callipallene pilosuspedes — Latin for "hairy feet" — has a slender trunk, red eyes, claws and three lips ringing its triangular mouth. The second, Tanystylum kiixin, is named for kiix̕in, an ancient Huu-ay-aht First Nations village site near where it was first collected.
Context
Sea spiders, or pycnogonids, are not true spiders but a distinct group of marine arthropods that breathe through their legs and, in many species, carry their eggs on specialized limbs. Tanystylum kiixin's egg-carrying limbs are notably small and clumsy compared to relatives', leaving the animal unable to groom itself effectively — researchers frequently found it caked in debris and small parasites, as ScienceDaily reported.
Reaction
Researchers involved in the survey described the find as a reminder that even one of the most heavily studied coastal waterways in North America still holds undocumented biodiversity, particularly among small-bodied invertebrates that are easy to overlook.
What's next
The team plans further dives around the kiix̕in village site and nearby reefs to determine how widely distributed both species are, and whether either qualifies for conservation attention.