Nymphonidae
Family of sea spiders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nymphonidae is a family of sea spiders which has representatives in all the oceans. This family contains some 250 species, most of which are found in the genus Nymphon. Nymphonid bodies are between 1 and 15 mm long, the extent between the points of the legs reaching 150 mm.[1] Most species are predators of hydroids. Like most sea spiders, species in this family have four pairs of legs in adults, except for Pentanymphon antarcticum, which has five pairs,[2][3] and Sexanymphon mirabilis, which has six pairs.[4][5]
| Nymphonidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| The pycnogonid Nymphon leptocheles grazes on a hydroid Tubularia indivisa. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Pycnogonida |
| Order: | Pantopoda |
| Suborder: | Eupantopodida |
| Superfamily: | Nymphonoidea |
| Family: | Nymphonidae |
| Genera | |
|
Boreonymphon | |
| Diversity | |
| 7 genera, 250 species | |
Taxonomy
Seven genera are currently recognized:[6]
- Boreonymphon Sars, 1888 (4 species)
- Bradypallene Kim & Hong, 1987 (1 species)
- Heteronymphon Gordon, 1932 (8 species)
- Neonymphon Stock, 1955 (1 species)
- Nymphon Fabricius, 1794 (> 250 species)
- Pentanymphon Hodgson, 1904 (1 species)
- Sexanymphon Hedgpeth & Fry, 1964 (1 species)
Selected species
- Nymphon gracile Leach, 1814
- Nymphon brevirostre Hodge, 1863
- Nymphon hirtum Kroyer, 1844
