''Pycnogonum'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

sea spider Sea spiders are marine arthropods of the order Pantopoda ( ‘all feet’), belonging to the class Pycnogonida, hence they are also called pycnogonids (; named after ''Pycnogonum'', the type genus; with the suffix '). They are cosmopolitan, fou ...

s in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the

type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearing type of a nomina ...

of the family.

Etymology

The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the Greek word for "knee": ().

Characteristics

Members of the genus ''Pycnogonum'' have squarish bodies with a tough integument and a few hairs. The cephalon (the anterior end of the body which is fused with the first segment of the trunk) has a long smooth

proboscis A proboscis () is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In invertebrates, the term usually refers to tubular mouthparts used for feeding and sucking. In vertebrates, a proboscis is an elonga ...

and a low tubercle on which the eyes are set. There are no

chelicerae The chelicerae () are the mouthparts of the subphylum Chelicerata, an arthropod group that includes arachnids, horseshoe crabs, and sea spiders. Commonly referred to as " jaws", chelicerae may be shaped as either articulated fangs, or simila ...

or palps and these sea spiders use their proboscis to suck juices from their

prey Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill the ...

. On the first segment of the trunk of males there are small ovigerous legs with nine segments. The

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. Th ...

e are carried around by the males on these appendages. The four pairs of ambulatory legs are short but strong, with well-developed terminal claws. The genital openings are on the second segment of the posterior pair of legs.Genus ''Pycnogonum
Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved 2011-11-22.

Species

The

World Register of Marine Species The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is a taxonomic database that aims to provide an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms. Content The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scientific speciali ...

lists the following

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

: *''

Pycnogonum africanum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the ...

'' Calman, 1938 *''

Pycnogonum aleuticum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the ...

'' Turpaeva, 1994 *''

Pycnogonum angulirostrum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the ...

'' Stock, 1959 *''

Pycnogonum anovigerum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the ...

'' Clark, 1956 *''

Pycnogonum arbustum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the ...

'' Stock, 1966 *''

Pycnogonum asiaticum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the ...

'' Muller, 1992 *''

Pycnogonum aurilineatum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Flynn, 1919 *''

Pycnogonum benokianum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the ...

'' Ohshima, 1935 *''

Pycnogonum buticulosum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the ...

'' Hedgpeth, 1949 *''

Pycnogonum calculum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the ...

'' Bamber, 1995 *''

Pycnogonum callosum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the ...

'' Losina-Losinsky, 1961 *'' Pycnogonum carinatum'' Staples, 2002 *''

Pycnogonum cataphractum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the ...

'' Mobius, 1902 *'' Pycnogonum cessaci'' Bouvier, 1911 *'' Pycnogonum clarki'' Staples, 2002 *'' Pycnogonum coninsulum'' Bamber, 2008 *'' Pycnogonum cranaobyrsa'' Bamber, 2004 *'' Pycnogonum crassirostrum'' Sars, 1888 *''

Pycnogonum crosnieri ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the G ...

'' Stock, 1991 *''

Pycnogonum daguilarensis ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the G ...

'' Bamber, 1997 *''

Pycnogonum diceros ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with t ...

'' Marcus, 1940 *'' Pycnogonum elephas'' Stock, 1966 *'' Pycnogonum eltanin'' Fry & Hedgpeth, 1969 *''

Pycnogonum forte ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Flynn, 1928 *'' Pycnogonum gaini'' Bouvier, 1910 *''

Pycnogonum gibberum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the G ...

'' Marcus & du Bois Reymond-M., 1963 *'' Pycnogonum gordonae'' Pushkin, 1984 *''

Pycnogonum grumus ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Arango, 2003 *''

Pycnogonum guyanae ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with t ...

'' Stock, 1975 *'' Pycnogonum hancocki'' Schmitt, 1934 *''

Pycnogonum indicum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Sundara Raj, 1930 *'' Pycnogonum kussakini'' Turpaeva, 2000 *''

Pycnogonum litorale ''Pycnogonum litorale'' is a marine arthropod in the family Pycnogonidae, the sea spiders. It is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the western Mediterranean Sea. Description ''Pycnogonum litorale'' has ...

'' (Strom, 1762) *''

Pycnogonum lobipes ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with t ...

'' Stock, 1991 *''

Pycnogonum madagascariensis ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the G ...

'' Bouvier, 1911 *''

Pycnogonum magellanicum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Hoek, 1898 *''

Pycnogonum magnirostrum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the G ...

'' Mobius, 1902 *'' Pycnogonum microps'' Loman *''

Pycnogonum minutum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Losina-Losinsky & Kopaneva, 1973 *'' Pycnogonum moniliferum'' Stock, 1991 *'' Pycnogonum moolenbeeki'' Stock, 1992 *''

Pycnogonum mucronatum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the G ...

'' Loman, 1908 *''

Pycnogonum musaicum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Stock, 1994 *'' Pycnogonum nodulosum'' Dohrn, 1881 *'' Pycnogonum occa'' Loman, 1908 *'' Pycnogonum orientale'' (Dana, 1849) *''

Pycnogonum ornans ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with t ...

'' Stock, 1992 *''

Pycnogonum panamum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Hilton, 1942 *''

Pycnogonum paragaini ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Munilla, 1990 *'' Pycnogonum planum'' Stock, 1954 *'' Pycnogonum platylophum'' Loman, 1923 *''

Pycnogonum plumipes ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the G ...

'' Stock, 1960 *'' Pycnogonum portus'' Barnard, 1946 *''

Pycnogonum pusillum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Dohrn, 1881 *''

Pycnogonum pustulatum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Stock, 1994 *'' Pycnogonum repentinum'' Turpaeva, 2003 *'' Pycnogonum repentium'' Turpaeva, 2003 *'' Pycnogonum reticulatum'' Hedgpeth, 1948 *''

Pycnogonum rickettsi ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Schmitt, 1934 *''

Pycnogonum saxulum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with t ...

'' Child, 1998 *'' Pycnogonum sivertseni'' Stock, 1955 *''

Pycnogonum spatium ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with t ...

'' Takahashi, Dick & Mawatari, 2007 *'' Pycnogonum stearnsi'' Ives, 1883 *'' Pycnogonum stylidium'' Child, 1995 *''

Pycnogonum tenue ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Slater, 1879 *'' Pycnogonum tesselatum'' Stock, 1968 *''

Pycnogonum torresi ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the G ...

'' Clark, 1963 *''

Pycnogonum tuberculatum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with t ...

'' Clark, 1963 *''

Pycnogonum tumulosum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with the G ...

'' Loman, 1908 *'' Pycnogonum uedai'' Nakamura & Child, 1983 *''

Pycnogonum ungellatum ''Pycnogonum'' is a genus of sea spiders in the family Pycnogonidae. It is the type genus of the family. Etymology The generic name literally means “dense knees”. ''Pycnogonum'' combines the prefix ' (from ‘dense’ in Greek) with th ...

'' Loman, 1911

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3411182 Pycnogonids