{
  "id": 9640940,
  "title": "Newly Discovered Red-Eyed, Hairy-Legged Sea Spider Is the Stuff of Nightmares",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/newly-discovered-red-eyed-hairy-legged-sea-spider-is-the-stuff-of",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-24T22:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discover Magazine",
    "slug": "discover-magazine",
    "url": "https://www.discovermagazine.com/newly-discovered-red-eyed-hairy-legged-sea-spider-is-the-stuff-of-nightmares-49728"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A newly found sea spider with red eyes and hairy legs has been discovered in the Salish Sea, raising some chilling images. The two species, described in the journal Organisms Diversity & Evolution, are the first found in the region in over a century, providing valuable insights into these creatures. Lead author Cormac Toler-Scott, conducting this work for his master’s degree in zoology at the University of British Columbia, expressed concern about how climate change and human disturbance impact marine invertebrates in the Salish Sea, as there is limited knowledge about these species and their habits. Toler-Scott noted that marine arthropods are prevalent worldwide, yet poorly understood, and proper identification is crucial to comprehend their vulnerability to environmental changes. The two newly discovered species are called Callipallene pilosuspedes and Tanystylum kiixin. The first species, named after its hairy lower legs, sports red eyes, short proboscis, claws, and a specialized oviger for egg-carrying or grooming. Meanwhile, the second species, named after an ancient Indigenous village near its collection site, has a smaller oviger and is plagued by other parasites, creating an \"ecosystem within an ecosystem within an ecosystem.\" With specimens collected, researchers created detailed images, performed DNA analysis, and built an identification guide for sea spiders in the area. The species have been registered in a global database, and more await discovery, with Toler-Scott stating, \"There's definitely more diversity out there that we haven't documented.\"",
  "summary": "Learn more about two new marine spider species discovered off the coast of British Columbia and how they're helping researchers learn more about marine arthropods.",
  "key_points": [
    "Newly discovered sea spiders with red eyes and hairy legs found in Salish Sea.",
    "Callipallene pilosuspedes and Tanystylum kiixin named after physical traits and location.",
    "Researchers document species diversity in Salish Sea marine invertebrates."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}