One with hairy legs, three lips, and red eyes.. Scientists discover two strange species of sea spiders

Editor’s Note: "Earth Call" is an editorial series from Afaq News committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet and the solutions to address them. Rolex has partnered with Afaq News through the "Sustainable Planet" initiative to raise awareness and knowledge about key sustainability issues and inspire positive action. - If the mere sight of a spider gives you chills, you may find the two newly discovered species of sea spiders even more concerning.

Researchers in Canada have discovered two previously unknown species of sea spiders during diving operations using underwater breathing apparatus at depths of up to 18 meters, between September 2023 and August 2024, in the Salish Sea, which lies between British Columbia in western Canada and the state of Washington in the United States. According to a study published in the journal "Organisms Diversity & Evolution" on Wednesday, one of the species is characterized by long, curved spines covering the lower parts of its legs.

In homage to this, it was named Callipallene pilosuspedes, where the Latin word "pilosus" means "hairy," and "pedes" means "feet." This creature, which has a slender trunk, also features red eyes and three lips at the opening of its triangular mouth, in addition to claws.

It also possesses appendages that have "a great deal of flexibility and dexterity," resembling legs but not used for walking; they can "function as tools for cleaning and grooming," according to a statement issued by the University of British Columbia, which conducted the study on Wednesday. The statement noted: "Under the microscope, researchers observed the animal wrapping these appendages around its legs and using spines connected to them that resemble combs to clean itself."

In contrast to Callipallene pilosuspedes, the appendages used by the newly discovered species, Tanystylum kiixin, to carry eggs are "much smaller and less flexible, making the animal unable to clean itself effectively," according to the University of British Columbia. The word "kiixin" in its name is derived from the sound of waves crashing against the base of an ancient village site of Indigenous peoples where this species was found, according to the study.

This spider is characterized by an hourglass-shaped abdomen, black eyes, and claws resembling knots or protrusions. Although it is a parasite in itself, it has been frequently found to be "covered in its own small parasites," according to the University of British Columbia.

In general, scientists have identified around 1,400 species of sea spiders, which date back about 500 million years, according to the study. These marine arthropods can crawl on the ocean floor or move over animals or plants, and some can even walk on the surface of the water.

Their sizes range from less than one centimeter to 70 centimeters, according to the University of British Columbia. These creatures are not true spiders, but they are evolutionarily related to spiders, as well as scorpions and horseshoe crabs, according to the university.

They have four body segments and four pairs of long legs, although some species can have up to 12 legs. Additionally, species that live in shallow waters often have four eyes.

Typically, their mouths are larger than their bodies, and they use them to suck fluids from soft-bodied invertebrates. Their digestive and reproductive systems branch out within their legs, and males carry the eggs on a special pair of legs until they hatch.

The researchers in this study described sea spiders that live in the shallow waters of the Salish Sea, as only 17 species of them had been reliably documented in the area, despite the sea's rich marine biodiversity, according to the study. The lead author of the study and biologist Cormac Toller-Scott, who conducted the research as part of his master's thesis in zoology at the University of British Columbia, noted in the statement that, "If you are interested in knowing how sea spiders are affected by climate change and the disturbances caused by humans, because marine invertebrates in the Salish Sea are particularly at risk, but I could hardly find any information at all."

This is largely due to the fact that people do not know much about the species present here or their way of life." With the coasts surrounding the sea now becoming densely populated and witnessing rapid development, researchers pointed out that documenting the biodiversity in its waters is an "important step in identifying the places where environmental conservation efforts can have the greatest impact," in the face of the threats posed to the sea as a result of human activities.