An eerie ocean creature with hairy legs and red eyes, resembling a nightmarish monster, might seem like a figment of imagination. However, these peculiar beings actually exist on Earth, as evidenced by the recent identification of two new species in the Salish Sea off the coast of southern British Columbia.
The University of British Columbia’s Cormac Toller-Scott, pursuing his master’s degree in zoology, led the research revealing these previously unknown sea spiders. These creatures, related to land spiders but evolving separately in the oceans, have been largely overlooked in this region.
During dives between September 2023 and August 2024, Toller-Scott and his team explored depths of up to 18 meters in various marine habitats like Quadra Island, Vancouver, Bamfield, and Victoria. By meticulously studying the physical characteristics and genetic makeup of the collected specimens, they identified two distinct species never before recorded.
One of the newfound species, named Callipallene pilosuspedes, derived from Latin meaning “hairy feet,” features fine spines on its lower legs. The second species, Tanystylum kiixin, honors an Indigenous village near the collection site. These sea spiders were found residing on hydroids, jellyfish-like organisms anchored to the seabed, where they feed and move around as parasites.
In a separate study conducted by UBC researchers led by biologist Shana Goffredi, three new sea spider species were recently discovered near methane seeps and hydrothermal vents. These unique creatures exhibited an extraordinary ability to cultivate bacteria that convert methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into essential nutrients for sustenance.
Despite the significance of taxonomic research projects like Toller-Scott’s sea spider investigation in expanding scientific knowledge, such endeavors often struggle to secure adequate funding. Toller-Scott emphasized the importance of taxonomy in laying the groundwork for broader scientific inquiries, highlighting the vast potential for discovering new species along the diverse coastline of Western Canada.
