A bizarre-looking ocean creature with hairy legs and red eyes might seem like a creature from a nightmare, but these creatures actually exist on Earth. Recently, researchers found two new species of parasitic sea spiders in the Salish Sea region of southern British Columbia.
The discovery was made by Cormac Toller-Scott, a graduate student in zoology at the University of British Columbia. These sea spiders, which are related to terrestrial spiders but evolved separately, have been poorly studied in this area.
During their research conducted between September 2023 and August 2024, Toller-Scott and his team explored various marine habitats in the region, including Quadra Island, Vancouver, Bamfield, and Victoria, diving up to 18 meters deep to collect samples for analysis.
Through detailed examination of the collected specimens and genetic analysis, the researchers identified two previously unknown species of sea spiders. These creatures were found attached to a hydroid, a jellyfish-like organism rooted to the seabed, where they feed as parasites by consuming parts of it with their proboscis.
The newly discovered species were named Callipallene pilosuspedes, referencing their hairy-legged appearance, and Tanystylum kiixin, named after a nearby Indigenous village site where they were found.
Notably, another research team at UBC previously discovered three sea spider species living near methane seeps and hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. These spiders displayed a unique ability to cultivate bacteria that could convert methane into nutrients, a finding that surprised the researchers.
Toller-Scott emphasized the importance of taxonomic research projects like his sea spider study, noting their significant role in scientific understanding despite often being underfunded. He highlighted the vast potential for discovering new species, especially along the diverse coastline of Western Canada.
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