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Sea Spider

HomeMarine InvertebratesSea Spider

Sea Spider

Pycnogonida (various species)

Despite their name, sea spiders are not true spiders but share the arthropod phylum. They use a straw-like proboscis to feed on soft-bodied animals like anemones and bryozoans. Around Lihou, careful explorers might find them clinging to seaweed or sponges, but their spindly forms and small size make them easy to miss.

  • Habitat: Found on seaweeds, sponges, or hydroids in the lower intertidal and subtidal.
  • When to See: Difficult to spot year-round; more likely in calm, clear rockpools.
  • Length: Body often only a few millimetres to a couple of centimetres, but with very long, thin legs.