Yeni deniz örümcekleri biyoçeşitlilikteki boşluğu dolduruyor

University of British Columbia researchers have described two sea spider species new to science, the first such additions recorded in the Salish Sea for almost a century. The team collected specimens at depths of up to 18 metres around several coastal locations and combined detailed imaging with DNA analysis. One species, Callipallene pilosuspedes, has red eyes, long spines on its lower legs and flexible egg-carrying limbs that it can use like combs for grooming. Only one specimen was found. The other, Tanystylum kiixin, has less dexterous limbs and was often covered by tiny parasites living among debris on its body. Beyond their unusual appearance, the discoveries address a practical scientific gap. Researchers generated genetic information for species that had never been sequenced and created a regional identification guide. Knowing which marine invertebrates live in the area is a necessary first step toward measuring how climate change and human disturbance affect them and designing effective protection.