General Description
Body with proboscis projecting outward from front, with the mouth at the tip. Central body (trunk) behind the proboscis, with a raised, rounded area (tubercle) bearing four eyes. Eight segmented walking legs attached to the sides of the trunk. Short abdomen behind trunk, rounded at tip. Leg span about 5 cm.
Biology
Young individuals of this species are different in appearance to the adults, and as a result they were originally placed in a separate genus. Males carry the eggs, holding them between body parts called ovigers that hang under the animal.
Distribution
Southern Australia.
Habitat
On soft bryozoans to depth of 100 m.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Maximum Size
5 cm
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Habitats
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
DSE Advisory List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Not listed
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Depths
Shallow (1-30 m), Deep ( > 30 m)
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Water Column Locations
On or near seafloor
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
Stock, 1956
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Common Name
Pycnogonid
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Other Names
Sea spider
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Order
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
ambigua