Video captures giant sea spiders mating for the first time

In a landmark moment for marine biology, scientists have successfully documented the mating behavior of giant sea spiders. This species, belonging to the group of marine invertebrates known as Colossendeidae, has been recognized by science for over a century and a half. However, the details of their reproductive cycle have remained mysterious.

The groundbreaking observation occurred during a 2022 expedition conducted by the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) aboard the Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dove to the impressive depth of 5,525 feet to capture this never-before-seen behavior. 

The focus of the expedition was to explore unsurveyed deep-sea habitats around the Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll, including within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. The significant findings have been recently outlined in a study published in the scientific journal Marine Biodiversity.

Mating secrets revealed

Study lead author and zoologist Georg Brenneis from the University of Vienna, expressed the importance of the event: “This is the first time humans have ever witnessed this behavior.” 

Despite sea spiders being extensively sampled during numerous historical field surveys, their reproductive biology had remained elusive, said Brenneis. “At this stage, people believed they may have a completely different reproductive biology to their relatives. But this video unmistakably shows that at least their mating follows typical sea spider fashion.”

Fascinating footage

Using morphological analysis, the scientists determined that the mating pair belonged to the genus Colossendeis, a group known to include the largest sea spiders. Some of these creatures can boast leg spans stretching up to 2.5 feet. The captured video showcased a mating ritual wherein two sea spiders were seen on top of each other, with the female manipulating an egg mass using a specialized pair of legs.

The role of technology in enabling this monumental discovery was highlighted by Daniel Wagner, OET’s Chief Scientist. “While humans have sampled the deep sea using nets and dredges for well over a century, advanced technologies like high-definition cameras on submersible vehicles have only recently allowed us to see deep-sea animals in their natural environment,” Wagner said.

These expeditions equipped with sophisticated technology have exponentially expanded our baseline knowledge of deep-sea habitats in the Central Pacific. Still, vast tracts of this remote region are yet to be explored. 

Watch the next expedition live

Wagner shared the exciting news that E/V Nautilus will embark on an 8-month-long field season this month. The focus will be to investigate unexplored sites in the Pacific, including within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, currently under consideration for designation as a national marine sanctuary.

Adding an interactive aspect to the upcoming expeditions, the deep-sea footage will be live-streamed, giving everyone with an internet connection an opportunity to join the journey of discovery. 

“Given that the vast majority of our ocean remains unexplored, these upcoming expeditions will undoubtedly lead to many more discoveries, and we are thrilled to be able to share these explorations with everyone,” said Wagner. 

More about sea spiders

Sea spiders, also known as pycnogonids, are not true spiders, but they are arthropods, like spiders, insects, and crustaceans. They are marine creatures that can be found in oceans all around the world, from the shallowest waters to the deepest trenches. 

Some sea spiders are quite large, especially in polar regions where a phenomenon known as polar gigantism occurs. This is the tendency for species living in polar and deep-sea environments to grow larger than their counterparts in other parts of the world.

The largest species of sea spider is Colossendeis colossea, a species found in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. They have been known to reach leg spans of over 70 centimeters (27 inches). This is quite large compared to most other species of sea spider, which tend to have leg spans of only a few centimeters.

Sea spiders have an unusual body plan compared to other arthropods. They have a tiny body and long, thin legs, which makes them look somewhat like a spider, although they are not closely related to spiders. They also have a proboscis that they use to suck nutrients out of their prey, which can include various types of soft-bodied invertebrates.

Scientists are still learning a lot about sea spiders, including their habits, life cycles, and the extent of their diversity. Despite their strange appearance and sometimes large size, they are generally not harmful to humans.

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