Marine Wildlife Encyclopedia
Giant Sea Spider Colossendeis australis
Unlike most sea spiders, which have a leg-span of less than 1 in (2.5 cm), the giant sea spider has a huge leg-span of about 10 in (25 cm). It has a large proboscis through which it sucks its food, but its tiny body is so small that the sex organs and parts of its digestive system are situated in the tops of the legs. Sea spiders are somewhat unusual among arthropods in that they exhibit parental care, the males having a modified pair of legs to carry the eggs until they hatch.
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- Subphylum Pycnogonida
- Length 10 in ( 25 cm) (leg-span)
- Weight Not recorded
- Habitat Bottom dweller
- Distribution Antarctic shelf and slope
