| Pycnogonidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pycnogonum littorale | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Pycnogonida |
| Order: | Pantopoda |
| Family: | Pycnogonidae Wilson, 1878 [1] |
| Genera | |
See text | |
Pycnogonidae is a family of sea spiders.
Sea spiders of the family Pycnogonidae are recognisable by their stubby legs, rough-surfaced exoskeleton and the significant reduction of cephalic appendages. chelifores (feeding pincers) and palps (sensory limbs) as seen in most other sea spiders are completely absent after postlarval metamorphosis, instead they using only their proboscis to suck juices from their cnidarian prey. Ovigers (cleaning and offspring-carrying limbs) are only retain in adult males, they are absent in all females of this family and exceptionally lost in both sexes of the subgenus Nulloviger. [2] Their legs are noticeably stout and short, in contrast to other sea spiders with a slender appearance. Like most sea spiders, they usually have four pairs of legs, except for genus Pentapycnon with five pairs. [3] [4] [5]
The World Register of Marine Species lists the following genera: [1]
The Caridea, commonly known as caridean shrimp or true shrimp, from the Greek word καρίς, καρίδος, are an infraorder of shrimp within the order Decapoda. This infraorder contains all species of true shrimp. They are found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Many other animals with similar names – such as the mud shrimp of Axiidea and the boxer shrimp of Stenopodidea – are not true shrimp, but many have evolved features similar to true shrimp.
Sea spiders are marine arthropods of the order Pantopoda, belonging to the class Pycnogonida, hence they are also called pycnogonids. They are cosmopolitan, found in oceans around the world. The over 1,300 known species have leg spans ranging from 1 mm (0.04 in) to over 70 cm (2.3 ft). Most are toward the smaller end of this range in relatively shallow depths; however, they can grow to be quite large in Antarctic and deep waters.
Colossendeidae is a family of sea spiders. This family includes more than 100 species distributed among six genera. These sea spiders inhabit the deep sea mostly but are also found in shallower waters, especially in Antarctic and Arctic waters.
Nymphonidae is a family of sea spiders which has representatives in all the oceans. This family contains some 250 species, most of which are found in the genus Nymphon. Nymphonid bodies are between 1 and 15 mm long, the extent between the points of the legs reaching 150 mm. Most species are predators of hydroids. Like most sea spiders, species in this family have four pairs of legs, except for Pentanymphon antarcticum, which has five pairs, and Sexanymphon mirabilis, which has six pairs.
Nymphon is a genus of sea spiders in the family Nymphonidae. 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. 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. This genus may also contain bioluminescent species.
Munida rugosa, commonly known as the rugose squat lobster or plated lobster, is a species of decapod crustacean found in the north east Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Pycnogonum is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family.
Pycnogonum stearnsi, commonly known as Stearns' sea spider, is a marine arthropod in the family Pycnogonidae. It is found on the western seaboard of North America.
Libinia dubia, the longnose spider crab, is a species of crab in the family Epialtidae. It is found in shallow waters on the eastern coast of North America.
Libinia ferreirae is a species of tropical spider crab in the family Epialtidae. It is found on the seabed in shallow waters off the Atlantic coast of South America.
Macropodia rostrata, common names, the common spider crab, long-legged spider crab, long-legged crab, is a species of marine crab in the family Inachidae. The Macropodia Rostrata visually mimics many other types of small crabs with the exception of its long legs. By attaching algae to their thin legs, they can be confused with the stem of seaweed. This is both a defense mechanism and a predatory advantage, as unsuspecting fish will hide in seaweed beds from nearby predators. This behavior can be absent among larger crabs, and those that live at great depths like giant Japanese spider crabs.
Nymphon gracile is a species of sea spider first described by William Elford Leach in 1863. The species highly resembles other members of the genus Nymphon, and species identification from morphological traits alone is, therefore, a complex task.
Colossendeis is a genus of sea spider belonging to the family Colossendeidae. These sea spiders are typically found in the deep sea. This genus includes the largest pycnogonids, with leg spans frequently ranging from 40 to 50 cm. The largest sea spider, Colossendeis colossea, can reach a leg span of 70 cm. This genus also includes some bioluminescent sea spiders.
Palaeoisopus is a monotypic genus of fossil pycnogonid, known only by one species, Palaeoisopus problematicus, discovered from the Lower Devonian Hunsrück Slate of Germany. It have several characters unusual for a pycnogonid, such as swimming legs with alternating size, medially-arranged eyes, and most significantly, a long, segmented abdomen, which were highly reduced in modern counterparts.
Colossendeis colossea is a species of sea spider in the family Colossendeidae. The species was first described by Edmund B. Wilson in 1881. It is the largest pycnogonid species known to science, reaching a leg span of 70 cm (28 in). Body length, including proboscis and abdomen, can reach 7 cm (2.8 in).
Propallene longiceps is a species of sea spider in the family Callipallenidae. It is found in shallow water in the western Pacific Ocean.
Pycnogonum litorale is a marine arthropod in the family Pycnogonidae, the sea spiders. It is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the western Mediterranean Sea.
Dodecolopoda is a monotypic genus of sea spider in the family Colossendeidae. The only species in this genus is Dodecolopoda mawsoni. This species is notable as one of only two species of sea spider with six pairs of legs and the first such species to be discovered.
Decolopoda is a genus of sea spider belonging to the family Colossendeidae. This genus includes two valid species, D. australis and D. qasimi. As the name of this genus implies, these two species are among the seven species of sea spider with five pairs of legs instead of the usual four leg pairs. The species D. australis is notable as the first polymerous sea spider to be discovered.
Colossendeis megalonyx is a species of pycnogonids, also known as sea spiders, in the famly Colossendeidae. The species was first described by Dutch zoologist Dr. Paulus Peronius Cato Hoek after his voyage on the HMS Challenger from 1873-1876.