Two New Sea Spider Species Discovered in the Salish Sea, Including a Red-Eyed, Hairy-Legged Creature
On August 26, a study published in Organisms Diversity & Evolution revealed the discovery of two new sea spider species in the Salish Sea. From September 2023 to August 2024, researchers collected over 150 specimens during dives around Quadra Island, Vancouver, Bamfield, and Victoria, at depths reaching 60 feet. Morphological and DNA assessments identified five shallow-water species, among them Callipallene pilosuspedes, characterized by its ruby eyes and delicate leg spines, and Tanystylum kiixin, noted for its underdeveloped ovigers. Only one specimen of Callipallene was found, while 82 Tanystylum specimens were gathered near hydroids. Co-author Cormac Toler-Scott highlighted the significance of finding new species and the risks posed by climate change.
Key facts
- Two new species of sea spider were discovered in the Salish Sea.
- The study was published on August 26 in the journal Organisms Diversity & Evolution.
- Researchers collected over 150 sea spiders from depths up to 60 feet between September 2023 and August 2024.
- One species, Callipallene pilosuspedes, has ruby eyes, a claw-tipped proboscis, and hairy legs; only one individual was found.
- The other species, Tanystylum kiixin, cannot clean itself due to underdeveloped ovigers and was found in 82 individuals.
- Both species were found near hydroids, which they likely feed on.
- Sea spiders evolved roughly 500 million years ago and are related to land spiders, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs.
- Study co-author Cormac Toler-Scott is an evolutionary biologist at the University of British Columbia.
Entities
Artists
- Cormac Toler-Scott
- Chandelis Duster
- Kaija Jussinoja
- Ed Cara
- Ruby Cornish
- Felipe Barreto
- Alice Sun
- Claudia Arango
Institutions
- University of British Columbia
- NPR
- CTV News
- Gizmodo
- CBC News
- National Geographic
- Oregon State University
- Queensland Museum
- Organisms Diversity & Evolution
- Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers
Locations
- Salish Sea
- Pacific Northwest
- Washington
- United States
- British Columbia
- Canada
- Quadra Island
- Vancouver
- Bamfield
- Victoria
- Australia