There is a group of (often) eight-legged animals living in many of the world’s oceans, and while they might resemble our web-building friends, sea spiders are not
arachnids at all.
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Photo: Steve Childs |
Unlike the terrestrial spiders they resemble, sea spiders can have up to twelve legs, though eight is more common. They have very thin bodies and thus have no need for a respiratory system, instead breathing through a process called diffusion.
Sea spiders can grow quite large, with some reaching diameters of up to three feet; however, most are much smaller. These animals are capable of either swimming or walking on the sea floor and spend their days hunting or scavenging for sea life such as sea-anemones and sponges.
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