Amazing Discovery: Enormous Spider from a Different Realm
A vibrant sea spider meanders across a dark sand incline in Indonesia. Sea spiders are small predators of marine invertebrates. Ethan Daniels/Shutterstock.com
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What resembles a spider but dwells underwater and breathes through its limbs? Enter the enigmatic sea spider. With over 1,300 species inhabiting every ocean, these marine arthropods can boast a leg span spanning from .04 inches to nearly three feet. The footage above was captured by ocean explorers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA scientists have dispatched their remotely operated vehicles to depths of 19,700 feet to explore the farthest reaches of the ocean where mankind has never treaded. This captivating creature was uncovered at a depth of 2,300 feet. As depicted in the video, the deeper the descent, the grander sea spiders can grow. Observe the remarkable up-close detail the video captures of this unique sea spider.
Sea spiders vary in size from minuscule to three feet long. Fernanda-Belen/Shutterstock.com
Are Sea Spiders Truly Spiders?
Though sea spiders resemble arachnids residing underwater, they are not identical. They are marine arthropods classified in the group Pycnogonida and are termed pycnogonids. Nonetheless, they are akin to spiders and share a common lineage. However, sea spiders evolved independently from land-dwelling spiders.
Where Can Sea Spiders Be Found?
Over 1,300 pycnogonid species inhabit oceans across the globe. They thrive in various ocean temperatures and depths, ranging from tropical seas to polar waters and from shallow depths to the Abyssal Zone. Numerous sea spiders reside in the Antarctic Ocean, with 20% of known species inhabiting the frigid depths of the Antarctic Ocean.
About Sea Spiders
These distinctive aquatic creatures possess elongated, slender legs supporting a diminutive body. Their mouth takes the form of a proboscis, which extracts the fluids from the soft-bodied animals they consume. Sea spiders feast on a diet consisting of worms, jellyfish, sponges, soft corals, and other soft-bodied marine organisms.
The hallmark feature of a sea spider’s anatomy is its legs. A sea spider’s legs house its essential organs, including reproductive organs. The female carries her eggs on her legs, utilizing them to breathe as well. Despite lacking lungs or gills, sea spiders necessitate oxygen. They obtain the oxygen they require by allowing it to diffuse across their leg surfaces and permeate their bodies through their tissues.
Another peculiar trait is that these creatures employ their gut to circulate oxygen throughout their bodies. Their hearts lack the strength to pump oxygen all the way through their lengthy legs.
What is the Largest Sea Spider Species?
While much remains unknown about the deepest ocean depths, the largest known species of sea spider
The 3-Foot-Wide Spider That Looks Straight Out Of A Sci-Fi Movie made its debut on A-Z Animals.
