Recent research has uncovered three new species of sea spiders off the US West Coast that thrive in ocean methane seeps. These spiders exhibit a previously unobserved symbiotic relationship with bacteria that inhabit their exoskeletons, allowing them to utilize methane and oxygen, converting these into edible sugars and fats. Unlike other sea spiders that hunt prey, these species seem to 'farm' bacteria for nutrition, potentially playing a significant role in preventing methane from reaching the atmosphere, thus contributing to climate regulation.
The discovery of three new sea spider species highlights a unique symbiotic relationship with bacteria that helps them thrive on methane in deep ocean habitats.
These sea spiders farm methane-fueled bacteria on their exoskeletons, turning greenhouse gas into nourishment, a previously unseen adaptation in their species.
Collection
[
|
...
]