Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have discovered two new species of sea spiders, also known as pycnogonides, in the Salish Sea. The findings, part of a master's thesis by Cormac Toler-Scott in zoology, were published in the journal Organisms Diversity & Evolution and announced in a press release on September 23, 2026. The study involved collecting specimens between September 2023 and August 2024, with dives reaching depths of up to 18 meters at locations such as Quadra Island, Vancouver, Bamfield, and Victoria. The two newly identified species are named Callipallene pilosuspedes and Tanystylum kiixin. Callipallene pilosuspedes has a triangular mouth with three lips and red eyes, a short snout ending in pincers, and sensory filaments around its mouth. Its name, meaning "hairy feet" in Latin, reflects its distinctive features, though it also has red eyes and a short snout. This species cleans itself using its ovigers—appendages typically used for carrying eggs—whose spines form a kind of comb. Only a single specimen of this species was found during the study. Tanystylum kiixin is named after a site near an Indigenous village where the first specimens were collected. The name reflects the sound of waves crashing at that location. This species has smaller and less agile ovigers, which prevent it from cleaning itself effectively, often leaving it covered in parasites. Both species were found in the same area of the Salish Sea. Sea spiders are ancient creatures that have existed for about 500 million years and breathe through their skin. They are closely related to scorpions, spiders, and horseshoe crabs. Some species have up to 12 legs, and it is the males who carry the eggs. Their size varies widely, ranging from less than 1 centimeter to over 70 centimeters in Antarctica. While the UBC press release described the new species as small, it did not provide specific measurements. The researchers believe many more sea spider species may still be undiscovered in the region. The team also generated the first DNA sequences for several species and created an identification guide for local sea spiders. Cormac Toler-Scott emphasized that identifying these invertebrates is crucial for protecting them from climate change, and the guide now provides a valuable tool for studying the Salish Sea's biodiversity.