Nymphon

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Nymphon
The pycnogonid Nymphon leptocheles grazes on a hydroid Tubularia indivisa.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Pycnogonida
Order: Pantopoda
Family: Nymphonidae
Genus: Nymphon
Fabricius, 1794

Nymphon is a genus of sea spiders in the family Nymphonidae.[1][2] The species of sea spiders within the genus Nymphon are all benthic organisms and are found in abyssal and bathyal areas of the ocean. This is a fully marine group and can be found at various depths ranging from the littoral zones to the deep sea. They are found in most major oceans across the globe with a strong distribution around polar regions: Arctic and Antarctic waters.[3] Out of the sea spider genus, Nymphon is the most rich, with a majority of the species within the genis being found in the Southern Ocean region.[4] This genus may also contain bioluminescent species.[5]

Distribution[edit]

Sea spiders in general are found all around the globe. The Nymphon genus has been commonly found in waters of higher latitudes and is associated with polar regions and having a more circumpolar distribution than other genus of sea spider. They are extremely abundant within polar regions, with Nymphon having the most species found in polar waters.[6] In relation to the benthos, mainly inhabit marine fauna and are often found around sessile communities.[7]

Feeding[edit]

Generally, it is thought that Nymphon feed on hydroids, actinians, bryozoans, molluscs, annelids, crustaceans, and detritus. They have strong associations with corals and algae. However, feeding behavior in relation to coral and algae has not been observed and there is no current evidence of finding coral or algae material in their gut.[8]

Species[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Nymphon Fabricius, 1794". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b Anna SM, Tomás M (2011). "A new species of Nymphon Fabricius, 1794 (Pycnogonida: Nymphidae) from northern Spain". Zootaxa. 2798 (1): 31–36. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2798.1.2.
  3. ^ Mercier A, Baillon S, Hamel JF (December 2015). "Life history and feeding biology of the deep-sea pycnogonid Nymphon hirtipes". Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 106: 1–8. Bibcode:2015DSRI..106....1M. doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2015.08.015.
  4. ^ Mahon AR, Arango CP, Halanych KM (2008-09-01). "Genetic diversity of Nymphon (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida: Nymphonidae) along the Antarctic Peninsula with a focus on Nymphon australe Hodgson 1902". Marine Biology. 155 (3): 315–323. doi:10.1007/s00227-008-1029-5. S2CID 18420829.
  5. ^ Herring PJ (May 1987). "Systematic distribution of bioluminescence in living organisms". Journal of Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence. 1 (3): 147–163. doi:10.1002/bio.1170010303. PMID 3503524.
  6. ^ Munilla T, Membrives AS (April 2009). "Check-list of the pycnogonids from Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters: zoogeographic implications". Antarctic Science. 21 (2): 99–111. Bibcode:2009AntSc..21...99M. doi:10.1017/S095410200800151X. S2CID 56023359.
  7. ^ Bamber RN (2009). "Sea-Spiders". In Wehrtmann IS, Cortés J (eds.). Marine Biodiversity of Costa Rica, Central America. Vol. 86. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. pp. 307–311. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-8278-8_28. ISBN 978-1-4020-8277-1.
  8. ^ Dietz L, Dömel JS, Leese F, Lehmann T, Melzer RR (December 2018). "Feeding ecology in sea spiders (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida): what do we know?". Frontiers in Zoology. 15 (1): 7. doi:10.1186/s12983-018-0250-4. PMC 5856303. PMID 29568315.
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