Scientists at the University of British Columbia have formally identified two previously undocumented sea spider species inhabiting the Salish Sea. The findings were published in the journal Organisms Diversity & Evolution and represent the first new sea spider species described from the region in nearly a century. The research combined detailed physical observations with genetic analysis to advance understanding of these marine animals.
Lead researcher Cormac Toler-Scott conducted the work as part of his master’s degree in zoology. He noted that comprehensive species identification is essential for understanding how marine invertebrates respond to climate change and human disturbance in the Salish Sea. The study highlights a significant gap in basic knowledge about the region’s sea spider populations, which has limited conservation and research efforts across marine arthropods more broadly.
Sea spiders represent an ancient lineage dating back approximately 500 million years. They are related to terrestrial spiders, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs but have remained exclusively marine. These arthropods exhibit remarkable biological features, including a feeding apparatus called a proboscis, variable leg counts reaching up to 12, and unusual reproductive systems where males carry and nurture eggs. Some species serve as parasites on larger organisms, while Antarctic varieties can exceed 70 centimeters in length.
One newly described species, named Callipallene pilosuspedes, features long curved spines on its lower legs, red eyes, and a distinctive triangular mouth with three lips surrounded by sensory tendrils. Researchers documented this species using a single specimen collected during dives reaching depths of 18 meters between September 2023 and August 2024. The second species, Tanystylum kiixin, named after an Indigenous village site, exhibits smaller egg-carrying limbs and frequently appears covered in parasites and debris.
The study represents the first comprehensive genetic analysis of Salish Sea sea spiders, with researchers generating DNA sequences for species previously not sequenced. Both newly identified species have been registered in global databases, and researchers produced an identification guide to assist in distinguishing sea spider species throughout the region. Toler-Scott indicated that additional undocumented species likely remain in the Salish Sea.
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