Sea Spider

ocean · arthropods · creepy-crawlies · deep sea

Eight spindly legs. Sea spiders have four pairs of incredibly long, thin legs that can stretch much longer than their tiny bodies. These legs help them walk slowly along the ocean floor and rocks.

Live in the ocean. Unlike regular spiders that live on land, sea spiders are marine arthropods that spend their entire lives in salt water. They can be found in oceans all around the world, from shallow coral reefs to the deepest trenches.

Ancient ocean dwellers. Sea spiders have been living in our oceans for hundreds of millions of years, dating back to the early or middle Paleozoic era. They are living fossils that have survived while many other creatures from that time disappeared.

Weird body builders. Most sea spiders have such tiny bodies compared to their legs that they look more like walking legs than actual creatures. Some species are so small you'd need a magnifying glass to see them properly.

Mysterious predators. Sea spiders hunt other tiny ocean creatures to survive, but scientists are still learning exactly what they eat and how they catch their prey in the deep ocean darkness.