Sea Spider Eating Coral “Waves” at the Camera

Spotted: a “waving” sea spider (class Pycnogonida) on a piece of bamboo coral (Keratoisididae) on Ļōkōto-N̄ōrn̄ōr Seamount in the waters of the Marshall Islands, almost 2,000 meters deep. Our onboard Corps of Exploration member explains how these deep-sea spiders contain most of their organs inside those long legs. Like terrestrial spiders, they are predators, using their proboscis to suck out the innards of corals and cnidarians. You can even see some spots where coral polyps appear to be missing. Maybe they were its last meal?
 

The NA174 expedition to explore the deep sea of the Republic of the Marshall Islands is funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute.