Sea Spiders: Pycnogonida

Sea spiders inhabit oceans worldwide, from warm tropical waters to very cold polar seas. The tropics are warm areas of the world, where the temperature is typically more than 68°F (20°C). Polar regions are the cold areas of the world near the North Pole (Arctic) and South Pole (Antarctic), where temperatures never rise above 50°F (10°C).

Sea spiders are rarely seen by most people. However, these penny-sized animals are sometimes easily seen in tidal pools, or pools of water that remain after an ocean tide has risen and fallen. Sea spiders are captured and stored in alcohol and other fluids to preserve them and are sold to colleges and universities as study animals.

Sea spiders are not endangered or threatened.