Jordan Parker, Southern Utah University
Pycnogonids or sea spiders are a small group of marine chelicerate arthropods (90 genera, 2,000 species). The genus Colossendeis contains the largest pycnogonids (leg spans up to 70 cm) which are found in very deep water and also near shore in shallower water in the polar regions. We have a number of specimen lots of Colossendeis sp. borrowed from the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History and are in the process of determining whether or not any of them are new species. All are labeled as C. colossea, but after an examination of the type specimens for this species, it is apparent that many of these specimens could be new species. Currently, we are examining USNM 69522, a specimen lot which contains two adults and a number of juveniles of different sizes. The project includes examining the specimens under a microscope, photographing them and documenting their morphology, measuring the trunk and appendages with the program, ImageJ, and then comparing the results with the type species. Morphological structures to be examined include proboscis and mouth, eyes and eye tubercle, pedipalps, ovigerous legs and ovigerous leg spines on segments 7-10, and the walking legs.