Salish Sea researchers discover two new sea spider species

Researchers from the University of British Columbia have discovered two new species of sea spiders in the Salish Sea, marking the first such documentation in the region in nearly a century. The findings, published in the journal Organisms Diversity & Evolution, were made through targeted scuba diving expeditions conducted between September 2023 and August 2024.

The first species, named Callipallene pilosuspedes, is characterized by red eyes, a three-lipped mouth, and long, curved spines on its lower legs. It possesses specialized appendages used for grooming itself. The second species, Tanystylum kiixin, is named after an ancient Indigenous village near its discovery site. This species features an hourglass-shaped abdomen and black eyes, but unlike the first, it has smaller limbs that prevent it from grooming effectively, often leaving it covered in debris and parasites.

Lead researcher Cormac Toler-Scott noted that these discoveries highlight the importance of identifying marine invertebrates to better understand how ecosystems are impacted by climate change and human disturbance. While sea spiders are related to arachnids, they are distinct marine arthropods that emerged approximately 500 million years ago.