sea spider
noun
: any of various small long-legged marine arthropods (class Pycnogonida) that superficially resemble spiders
Examples of sea spider in a Sentence
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In water as much as 4,200 feet deep the team from the Schmidt Ocean Institute found a surprisingly flourishing ecosystem that included icefish, giant sea spiders, octopus, corals and sponges.
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Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
After eight days, the team observed various sea life, including corals, octopuses, giant sea spiders, and sponges.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
But, somehow, life finds a way: The seafloor was crawling with critters of all shapes and sizes, from centuries-old sponges and cup corals to octopuses, snails, worms, sea spiders, icefish and even a rare giant phantom jellyfish.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
But despite how prevalent sea spiders are, many researchers say the species is largely understudied.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024
Living in the frigid waters off the coast of Antarctica, the giant sea spider has hatched its young in secrecy for over 140 years.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024
This reproduction strategy was unlike that exhibited by the majority of sea spiders.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024
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.
—Amy Brady, Scientific American, 20 June 2023
Now, the eight-legged sea spider Pycnogonum litorale — think of a marine creature related to terrestrial arachnids like spiders, scorpions and mites — has shown that anthropods can recover entire parts of their body, too.
—Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2023
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Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
After eight days, the team observed various sea life, including corals, octopuses, giant sea spiders, and sponges.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
But, somehow, life finds a way: The seafloor was crawling with critters of all shapes and sizes, from centuries-old sponges and cup corals to octopuses, snails, worms, sea spiders, icefish and even a rare giant phantom jellyfish.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
But despite how prevalent sea spiders are, many researchers say the species is largely understudied.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024
Living in the frigid waters off the coast of Antarctica, the giant sea spider has hatched its young in secrecy for over 140 years.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024
This reproduction strategy was unlike that exhibited by the majority of sea spiders.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024
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.
—Amy Brady, Scientific American, 20 June 2023
Now, the eight-legged sea spider Pycnogonum litorale — think of a marine creature related to terrestrial arachnids like spiders, scorpions and mites — has shown that anthropods can recover entire parts of their body, too.
—Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Sea spider.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20spider. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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