sea spider

noun

1. any member of the arthropod class Pycnogonida, marine invertebrates with eight long walking legs attached to a small body consisting of a cephalothorax and vestigial abdomen.

sea spider

noun

1. a small marine arachnid, having four pairs of legs and somewhat resembling a spider, unusual in that the male carries the eggs once they are laid and cares for the offspring

Word History and Origins

Origin of sea spider¹

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

The reproduction of giant sea spiders in Antarctica has been largely unknown to researchers for more than 140 years, until now.

From Science Daily

Most notable among them was Charles Wyville Thomson, a Scotsman who in the 1860s hauled up glass sponges, sea spiders, and other curiosities—thus debunking a theory that the deep ocean was lifeless.

From Scientific American

An unprotected clutch would prove an easy snack for predators like starfish, polychaete worms and sea spiders, Dr. Cheng said.

From New York Times

The results showed which body parts evolved when, and revealed that the ancestors of modern sea spiders are much older and hardier than previously thought.

From Science Magazine

Ms. Shishido and her colleagues thought giant sea spiders wouldn’t be able to handle really warm waters as well as smaller ones, because their oxygen demands would use up all their supply.

From New York Times