The creature feeds with the help of a trunk, replacing his mouth, and breathes through his legs. But most of all biologists impressed by its large claws. They are probably needed to grab soft foods like anemones and worms.
Austropallene halanychi reach about a centimetre in length, and their paws extend to almost three centimetres. However, these are very modest figures for sea spiders, some of which grow to 60 centimetres.
Antarctica’s marine environment is an area of science that we need to continue to explore. There’s so much out there that we find something new every time we visit.
Andrew Mahon
Co-author of the study, a biologist at Central Michigan University (USA)
In the harsh Antarctic environment, many scientists are still using old methods. This spider was pulled out by the authors of this paper using an ordinary net thrown deep underwater. They preserve every specimen they catch.
