New sea spider species discovered off British Columbia coast
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Researchers in Canada discovered two new species of sea spiders in the waters off British Columbia between September 2023 and August 2024.
The scientists examined seven sea spider species, updating descriptions of five known ones and identifying two previously unknown species. One new species, Callipallene pilosuspedes, has hairy legs, red eyes, and uses specialized limbs to groom itself. The other, Tanystylum kiixin, lives among colonial marine animals and often hosts tiny parasites on its body.
Researchers chose the name Tanystylum kiixin to honor Kiixin, an ancient Indigenous village site near where the spider was first found, the name means “the sound of waves crashing.” These discoveries are notable because despite extensive study of the marine environment in British Columbia, many species remain unidentified. Scientists believe these findings suggest a larger lack of understanding about marine invertebrates in the Salish Sea, which are particularly vulnerable to climate change and human disturbance.
The research team used light and scanning electron microscopy, alongside DNA analysis, to confirm the new species. They suggest more undiscovered species likely inhabit the region’s coastal waters.
