Bizarre Antarctic Sea Spider: Giant Claws, Feeding Rod, and Boxing Gloves

A new species of sea spider, named Austropallene halanychi, has been discovered near Antarctica in the Ross Sea. This yellow creature has large claws and breathes through its legs. It also has a unique tubular proboscis for feeding and distinctive chelifores with large claws. The specimen, collected in 2013, is larger than typical sea spiders and has been classified as a brand new species. Sea spiders are arthropods found worldwide, with leg spans ranging from 0.04 inches to over 2.3 feet. They are not true spiders or arachnids and use their legs for breathing and mating.