---
title: "What the sources say about the Giant Antarctic Sea Spider | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "45 claims from the Giant Antarctic Sea Spider profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
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# What the sources say about the Giant Antarctic Sea Spider (*Colossendeis megalonyx*)

> 45 claims from the Giant Antarctic Sea Spider profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Giant Antarctic Sea Spider](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/giant-antarctic-sea-spider/)

## Dietz et al. (2015). Regional differentiation and extensive hybridization between mitochondrial clades of the Southern Ocean giant sea spider Colossendeis megalonyx. Royal Society Open Science.

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.140424

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A giant sea spider of the Southern Ocean | the circumpolar giant sea spider Colossendeis megalonyx |
| Southern Ocean, with a circumpolar distribution in Antarctic and Subantarctic waters, from 3 to 4900 m deep | with a circumpolar distribution in Antarctic and Subantarctic waters and also found in South America, South Africa and Madagascar, from 3 to 4900 m depth |
| This spider is found around Antarctica and in Subantarctic waters, and is also found in South America, South Africa and Madagascar, at depths from 3 to 4900 m. | with a circumpolar distribution in Antarctic and Subantarctic waters and also found in South America, South Africa and Madagascar, from 3 to 4900 m depth |
| A DNA study of over 500 specimens found 15 to 20 distinct groups in its mitochondrial DNA | we expand the sampling to include over 500 mitochondrial COI sequences of specimens from around the Antarctic. Using multiple species delimitation approaches, the number of distinct mitochondrial OTUs increased from six to 15–20 (note: OTUs rendered as groups in its mitochondrial DNA.) |
| Yet nuclear DNA results from some of those specimens suggested that several of those lineages can hybridize and should not be read as separate species. | analysis of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer region for a subset of these specimens showed incongruence between nuclear and mitochondrial results. These mito-nuclear discordances suggest that several of the divergent mitochondrial lineages can hybridize and should not be interpreted as cryptic species. |
| A 2015 study with more samples counted 15 to 20 mitochondrial groups, but its nuclear DNA results suggested that several of them interbreed and should not be treated as hidden species. | we expand the sampling to include over 500 mitochondrial COI sequences of specimens from around the Antarctic. Using multiple species delimitation approaches, the number of distinct mitochondrial OTUs increased from six to 15–20 ... These mito-nuclear discordances suggest that several of the divergent mitochondrial lineages can hybridize and should not be interpreted as cryptic species. (note: 2015 is the reference year. OTUs rendered as mitochondrial groups; 'can hybridize' as interbreed; 'cryptic' as hidden.) |
| Earlier mitochondrial DNA work suggested it was a complex of at least six hidden species. | Based on mitochondrial markers, it was recently suggested that the circumpolar giant sea spider Colossendeis megalonyx comprises a complex of at least six cryptic species |
| Not Evaluated | the circumpolar giant sea spider Colossendeis megalonyx (note: stats.conservationStatus. Anchors the species name only; the body makes no status claim. GBIF's copy of the IUCN Red List returns category NOT_EVALUATED for Colossendeis megalonyx Hoek, 1881 (api.gbif.org/v1/species/2117581/iucnRedListCategory, fetched 2026-10-11); an API endpoint can't be cited, and no page found states it, so no IUCN reference is cited (#1227).) |

## Moran, Lobert & Toh (2024). Spawning and larval development of Colossendeis megalonyx, a giant Antarctic sea spider. Ecology.

https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4258

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Its family, the Colossendeidae, includes the largest and most conspicuous of the sea spiders, with some species reaching leg spans of 40-50 cm. | Colossendeids include the largest and most ... conspicuous of sea spiders, with some species reaching leg spans of 40-50 cm (note: Family scope (Colossendeidae), not stated for C. megalonyx.) |
| Around McMurdo Sound in Antarctica, colossendeids are abundant at scuba depths. | McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, where colossendeids are ... abundant at SCUBA depths |
| Divers there frequently saw stacks of usually two, sometimes three or four, colossendeids on top of each other, a mating posture in other sea spiders. | McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, where colossendeids are ... abundant at SCUBA depths, divers had frequently observed groups of usually two, but ... sometimes three or four individuals stacked on top of each other ... in what is characteristically a mating posture in other sea spiders |
| Researchers collected several mating groups of C. megalonyx and kept them at between -1.5 and -0.5 °C, and two groups laid eggs in the lab. | we hand-collected several mating groups of C. megalonyx , transported ... them to McMurdo Station, kept them in a flow-through seawater system at temperatures between ... -1.5 and -0.5 ... Two of these mating ... groups produced eggs in the laboratory in 2021 |
| The first mass held thousands of eggs, averaging about 107 micrometres across. | The first mass contained ... thousands (though we did not count them) of light-colored, small eggs (average diameter 106.9 (note: 106.9 micrometres average diameter, rounded to 107; the quote stops before the unit because the PDF text drops the mu sign.) |
| Most other groups of sea spiders brood their eggs on the father's ovigerous legs | the paternal brooding exhibited by most other ... groups of sea spiders (note: Also: males who brood embryos on specialized ovigerous legs (same manuscript).) |
| brooding has never been observed in the family Colossendeidae | brooding has never been observed in three of the eleven recognized extant families of ... pycnogonids, including the family Colossendeidae |
| One adult stayed on or close to the egg mass for almost three days, appearing to groom it, and in that time the mass became firmly attached to the rock. | One adult from the mating group remained on or close ... to the egg mass for almost three days after the eggs were produced, appearing to groom and ... manipulate the mass ... During this ... grooming period the mass became compacted and firmly attached to the rock. |
| The authors think that adult was male, and potentially the father. | We think the adult ... that tended the mass was male, and potentially the father |
| Development was slow. | Development was slow, as is characteristic of ... Antarctic ectotherms |
| The first larva hatched about eight months after the eggs were laid | The first hatched larva was observed on June 28, ... 2022, ~ eight months post-spawn (note: "after" paraphrases "post-spawn".) |
| the hatched larvae were negatively buoyant, meaning they sank, and crawled slowly in the dish. | Hatched larvae were negatively buoyant and crawled slowly in the dish. |
| In a lab study with eggs held at -1.8 °C, the first larva appeared about eight months after spawning, and larvae were still hatching in October 2022, when the researchers stopped watching. | We maintained the embryos ... in filtered seawater in incubators at -1.8 °C for ... months ... The first hatched larva was observed on June 28, ... 2022, ~ eight months post-spawn; a major hatching event occurred on July 25; and hatching ... continued through October 2022 when the observations were discontinued (note: "after spawning" paraphrases "post-spawn".) |
| Its eggs, held at -1.8 °C in the lab, took about eight months to give a first larva | We maintained the embryos ... in filtered seawater in incubators at -1.8 °C for ... months ... The first hatched larva was observed on June 28, ... 2022, ~ eight months post-spawn; a major hatching event occurred on July 25; and hatching ... continued through October 2022 when the observations were discontinued (note: vibe.reason, same quote as the body) |

## Moran et al. (2018). Predatory behavior of giant Antarctic sea spiders (Colossendeis) in nearshore environments. Invertebrate Biology.

https://doi.org/10.1111/ivb.12210

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| feeds on open-water animals | Colossendeis megalonyx , fed on a variety of pelagic organisms, particularly the pteropod Clione antarctica |
| Pelagic (open-water) animals, particularly the pteropod Clione antarctica | fed on a variety of pelagic organisms, particularly the pteropod Clione antarctica |
| Researchers diving there recorded C. megalonyx feeding on pelagic organisms | We documented two species feeding on a variety of benthic and pelagic invertebrates during three diving field seasons at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Individuals of one species, Colossendeis megalonyx , fed on a variety of pelagic organisms |
| It fed particularly on the pteropod Clione antarctica. | particularly the pteropod Clione antarctica |
| Video of captive spiders showed them capturing C. antarctica rapidly. | We used video to document rapid capture of individuals of C. antarctica by captive specimens of C. megalonyx in the laboratory |
| The researchers suggest that, at least near the shore, pelagic invertebrates are an important food source for this species. | we suggest that, at least in the nearshore environment, pelagic invertebrates are an important food source for this and potentially other pycnogonid species |
| Over three diving seasons at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, researchers watched it eat a variety of open-water (pelagic) animals, especially the pteropod Clione antarctica. | We documented two species feeding on a variety of benthic and pelagic invertebrates during three diving field seasons at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Individuals of one species, Colossendeis megalonyx , fed on a variety of pelagic organisms, particularly the pteropod Clione antarctica (note: 'especially' renders 'particularly'.) |
| In the lab they filmed captive spiders seizing that pteropod quickly. | We used video to document rapid capture of individuals of C. antarctica by captive specimens of C. megalonyx in the laboratory |

## Shishido et al. (2019). Polar gigantism and the oxygen–temperature hypothesis: a test of upper thermal limits to body size in Antarctic pycnogonids. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.0124

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| In one study, the bigger the animal, the more porous its cuticle, especially in Colossendeis megalonyx. | as body size increases, porosity increases as well, especially in C. megalonyx |
| The authors suggest that may help a larger body get enough oxygen. | which may compensate for the increasing metabolic demand and longer diffusion distances of larger animals by facilitating diffusive oxygen supply |
| In tests from -1.8 °C up to 9 °C, giant Antarctic sea spiders from two genera, including Colossendeis, were highly sensitive to elevated temperature | two genera of giant Antarctic sea spiders (Pycnogonida), Colossendeis and Ammothea ... We tested performance at four temperatures spanning ambient (-1.8°C) to 9°C. Individuals from both genera were highly sensitive to elevated temperature |
| C. megalonyx kept performing at considerably higher temperatures than another giant, Ammothea glacialis. | C. megalonyx maintained performance at considerably higher temperatures |
| A 2019 study found that bigger animals had more porous cuticles, especially in Colossendeis megalonyx | as body size increases, porosity increases as well, especially in C. megalonyx (note: 2019 is the reference year.) |
| Warm water is a problem. | Individuals from both genera were highly sensitive to elevated temperature (note: Paraphrase of the next claim's source line, for the short sentence.) |
| the authors suggest this may help a larger body take in enough oxygen | which may compensate for the increasing metabolic demand and longer diffusion distances of larger animals by facilitating diffusive oxygen supply |

## Lane et al. (2018). Cuticular gas exchange by Antarctic sea spiders. Journal of Experimental Biology.

https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.177568

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| like all sea spiders, has no gills | marine arthropods that lack gills and rely on cutaneous respiration (note: Lane's abstract states it of the group: 'Pycnogonids, or sea spiders, are marine arthropods that lack gills'. Sea-spider scope, worded as such.) |
| Like other sea spiders it has no gills: oxygen diffuses in through pores in its cuticle | lack gills and rely on cutaneous respiration ... the pores facilitate oxygen diffusion (note: Sea-spider scope.) |
| Sea spiders have no gills. | marine arthropods that lack gills and rely on cutaneous respiration |
| They breathe through the cuticle, the outer layer of the body, which contains pores. | rely on cutaneous respiration ... Their cuticle contains pores |
| One study modelled the oxygen flowing in through all those pores and found it closely matched what the animals use, which means the pores help oxygen diffuse in. | modeling diffusive oxygen fluxes across all pores in the body of sea spiders ... Modeled oxygen fluxes through pores closely matched oxygen consumption across a range of body sizes, which means the pores facilitate oxygen diffusion. |

## Woods et al. (2017). Respiratory gut peristalsis by sea spiders. Current Biology.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.05.062

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Contractions of the gut's many side branches drive flows of gut fluid and hemolymph | flows of gut fluids and hemolymph driven by peristaltic contractions of a space-filling system of gut diverticula |
| That study called it a previously undescribed way of moving oxygen inside the body. | use a previously undescribed mechanism of internal O 2 transport |
| Sea spiders also use their guts as pumps. | driven by peristaltic contractions of a space-filling system of gut diverticula |