Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Wolf E. Arntz, Deutschland
Info
Sea spiders are not spiders, they form their own group, the jawed spiders with over 1000 species, but we have classified the isopod spiders in the category "spider-like animals" due to their spider-like body structure.
Sea spiders are found in all the world's oceans, with a particular focus on the cold Southern Ocean.
A sea spiders can reach almost gigantic sizes, specimens of 51 cm have been observed and measured.
Colossendeis megalonyx is an omnivorous species that consumes dead creatures as well as actively preying on living marine animals.
Until now, scientists have assumed that the sea spider feeds exclusively on zoobenthos, which is largely true, so scientists were all the more astonished when free-swimming sea snails such as Cliona (sea angels) were preyed upon.
The study of Colossendeis megalonyx has solved a long-standing question about the reproduction of this species.
So far, no adult animals have been observed with their offspring, e.g. on their bodies, as is otherwise known from many marine animals.
Colossendeis megalonyx lays thousands of tiny fertilized eggs measuring only 100 micrometres, which are carefully glued to a rocky bottom by one of the parents, presumably the father.
The eggs remain here until tiny isopod spiders hatch, which are left to fend for themselves after hatching.
Colossendeis megalonyx can be easily recognized by the alternating colour pattern on the legs (orange and white/cream).
Diet:
among others
Alcyonium antarcticum Wright & Studer, 1889, (soft coral)
Clavularia frankliniana Roule, 1902, (soft coral)
Nacella concinna (Strebel, 1908), (limpet)
Clione antarctica E. A. Smith, 1902, (sea angel))
Synonyms:
Colossendeis arundorostris Fry & Hedgpeth, 1969
Colossendeis frigida Hodgson, 1907
Colossendeis orcadense Hodgson, 1909
Colossendeis rugosa Hodgson, 1907
We would like to thank Dr. Wolf E. Arntz for the first photos of this species.
Sea spiders are found in all the world's oceans, with a particular focus on the cold Southern Ocean.
A sea spiders can reach almost gigantic sizes, specimens of 51 cm have been observed and measured.
Colossendeis megalonyx is an omnivorous species that consumes dead creatures as well as actively preying on living marine animals.
Until now, scientists have assumed that the sea spider feeds exclusively on zoobenthos, which is largely true, so scientists were all the more astonished when free-swimming sea snails such as Cliona (sea angels) were preyed upon.
The study of Colossendeis megalonyx has solved a long-standing question about the reproduction of this species.
So far, no adult animals have been observed with their offspring, e.g. on their bodies, as is otherwise known from many marine animals.
Colossendeis megalonyx lays thousands of tiny fertilized eggs measuring only 100 micrometres, which are carefully glued to a rocky bottom by one of the parents, presumably the father.
The eggs remain here until tiny isopod spiders hatch, which are left to fend for themselves after hatching.
Colossendeis megalonyx can be easily recognized by the alternating colour pattern on the legs (orange and white/cream).
Diet:
among others
Alcyonium antarcticum Wright & Studer, 1889, (soft coral)
Clavularia frankliniana Roule, 1902, (soft coral)
Nacella concinna (Strebel, 1908), (limpet)
Clione antarctica E. A. Smith, 1902, (sea angel))
Synonyms:
Colossendeis arundorostris Fry & Hedgpeth, 1969
Colossendeis frigida Hodgson, 1907
Colossendeis orcadense Hodgson, 1909
Colossendeis rugosa Hodgson, 1907
We would like to thank Dr. Wolf E. Arntz for the first photos of this species.
