Yellow Sea Spider, Ambiguous Sea Spider – Pallenella ambigua

, Yellow Sea Spider, Ambiguous Sea Spider, Pallenella ambigua
Depth: 8 - 126 m

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf, Yellow Sea

The Yellow Sea Spider, Ambiguous Sea Spider, scientifically known as Pallenella ambigua, is a fascinating marine arthropod belonging to the class Pycnogonida, commonly referred to as sea spiders. These creatures are distinguished by their elongated legs and small, compact bodies, often found in various marine environments.

Description & Characteristics

Pallenella ambigua exhibits the characteristic features of its class, with a segmented body and eight long, slender legs. The size of this species is not well-documented, and its maximum length remains uncertain. Its body is typically a yellowish hue, giving rise to its common name, the Yellow Sea Spider. While the species is often referred to as the Ambiguous Sea Spider, the reason behind this epithet is unclear.

Habitat and Occurrence

Pallenella ambigua, as its common name suggests, is primarily found in the Yellow Sea. This marine zone, located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula, is characterized by its temperate climate and diverse marine life. The exact depth range at which Pallenella ambigua thrives is not known, although it likely inhabits shallower depths within this region. Its presence in other marine zones has not been established, further adding to the ambiguity surrounding this species.

Taxonomy

Pallenella ambigua, the Yellow Sea Spider, is classified within the family Callipallenidae, a group of sea spiders known for their relatively small size and typically simple morphology. This family belongs to the order Pantopoda, which comprises all species of sea spiders. Within the broader scheme of marine life, they are classified under the class Pycnogonida, a group of marine arthropods adapted to life in diverse marine environments.

Feeding

Pallenella ambigua is a carnivore, although specific details about its feeding habits are scarce. Like most sea spiders, it likely preys on small invertebrates and other organisms found in its marine habitat. Further research is necessary to understand the specific dietary preferences and foraging strategies of this intriguing marine arthropod.

Associated Species

Image References

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