Two new species of sea spiders have been discovered off the coast of British Columbia, marking the first time such marine invertebrates have been documented in the Salish Sea in nearly a century, according to University of British Columbia researchers.
Callipallene Pilosuspedes: The Hairy-Legged Salish Sea Discovery
University of British Columbia zoologists identified the first new species as Callipallene pilosuspedes, deriving its species name from a Latin play on words meaning “hairy feet.” Lead researcher Cormac Toler-Scott noted that the specimen features long, curved spines covering its lower legs. The tiny marine arthropod also sports red eyes, a short proboscis equipped with claws to grasp food, and a triangular, three-lipped mouth covered in sensory tendrils.
Tanystylum Kiixin and Its Parasitic Ecosystem
The second newly documented species, Tanystylum kiixin, is named after an ancient Indigenous village near where researchers collected it. Pronounced “kee-hin,” this specimen possesses smaller and less dexterous limbs that prevent it from grooming effectively. Toler-Scott explained that the creature frequently appears covered in tiny protist parasites and debris, effectively creating an ecosystem within an ecosystem within an ecosystem. These shallow-water species often rely on a specialized proboscis to suck fluids from larger host organisms.
Marine Invertebrate Biodiversity in British Columbia
While discovering new marine invertebrates happens fairly regularly, sea spiders remain exceptionally understudied by the scientific community. According to Toler-Scott, researchers have only described about 1,400 species of sea spiders globally, a stark contrast to the roughly 50,000 known terrestrial spider species. The specimens gathered from dives around Vancouver, Quadra Island, Bamfield, and Victoria add two more entries to the roughly 20 total sea spider species documented in the region.
Sea Spider Diversity Comparison
| Category | Sea Spiders (Pycnogonida) | Terrestrial Spiders (Araneae) |
|---|---|---|
| Global Described Species | ~1,400 | ~50,000 |
| Salish Sea Additions | 2 new species (2023–2024 collections) | Not applicable |
| Primary Habitat | Marine benthic environments | Terrestrial ecosystems |
Did You Know? Despite sharing a common name with land spiders, sea spiders are not true arachnids.
Frequently Asked Questions About Salish Sea Spiders
Are sea spiders dangerous to swimmers?
No. Cormac Toler-Scott emphasizes that sea spiders are completely harmless to humans, slow-moving, and incapable of biting people.
Where were the new sea spider species found?
Researchers collected the specimens between September 2023 and August 2024 during dives around Vancouver, Quadra Island, Bamfield, and Victoria.
How many sea spider species are known in the Salish Sea?
These two recent additions bring the total number of documented sea spider species in the Salish Sea area to approximately 20.
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