In the depths of the ocean resides an eerie creature – a sea spider with hairy legs and red eyes, resembling a nightmare monster. Surprisingly, these unearthly beings are a reality on planet Earth, as two new species were recently unearthed in the Salish Sea of southern British Columbia.
Exploring the marine invertebrates in the region, University of British Columbia’s Cormac Toller-Scott, during his zoology master’s degree research, shed light on the underrepresented sea spider population. These creatures, ancient relatives of land spiders, have thrived in the oceans since long before their terrestrial counterparts.
Venturing into the depths between September 2023 and August 2024, Toller-Scott and his team delved up to 18 meters, uncovering new species in various marine habitats across Quadra Island, Vancouver, Bamfield, and Victoria. By meticulously studying their physical features and genetic data, the researchers identified two previously undocumented sea spider species thriving on hydroids.
One of the newfound species, called Callipallene pilosuspedes, earned its name from the “hairy feet” appearance due to fine spines on its lower legs. The other species, Tanystylum kiixin, took inspiration from the nearby Indigenous village where it was discovered.
This discovery follows a significant find by biologist Shana Goffredi and her team at UBC, who stumbled upon three sea spider species exclusively inhabiting methane seeps and hydrothermal vents. These spiders demonstrated a unique ability to cultivate bacteria that convert methane into essential nutrients, showcasing their crucial role in the ecosystem.
Despite the importance of taxonomy research projects like this, Toller-Scott emphasized the lack of funding for such endeavors. He highlighted the significance of taxonomy in laying the groundwork for broader scientific inquiries, hinting at the untapped potential for discovering new species along the diverse Canadian West Coast.