Cormac Toler-Scott

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Two new sea spider species discovered in the Salish Sea after nearly a century

As of October 2026: Completed the study; paper published August 2026

Sea spiders in the Salish Sea went nearly a century without a new species description. A University of British Columbia (UBC) master's student found two in a single field season of scuba diving.

Updated Oct 5

Notable Quotes

"I only had one field season but there's definitely more diversity out there that we haven't documented." — to UBC News

from Two new sea spider species discovered in the Salish Sea after nearly a century · Updated Oct 5

"If a master's student can find two new species of sea spiders in one field season of scuba diving along the coast of [British Columbia], imagine how many undescribed species of marine invertebrates need to be documented before anthropogenic disturbance and climate change completely alter these marine communities forever." — to Gizmodo

from Two new sea spider species discovered in the Salish Sea after nearly a century · Updated Oct 5