Pycnogonida of the North American Arctic

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Author: Hedgpeth, Joel W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1963
• Subjects: General Medicine; Arctic; Antarctic; Norwegian Sea; Baffin Bay; Pacific; Antarc*; antartic*; Baffin; Davis Strait; North Atlantic; Point Barrow
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f63-090; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f63-090

This report concerns 22 species of pycnogonids found between Point Barrow and the Baffin Bay–Davis Strait region, based on collections by the Calanus expeditions since 1947 and by G. E. MacGinitie at Point Barrow. One new species, from Point Barrow, is described. Three basic distribution patterns are recognized: a boreal, circumarctic or panarctic distribution, a high arctic and deeper boreal distribution related to the North Atlantic–Norwegian sea areas, and a Pacific boreal distribution. Neither of the latter two have circumpolar components. No relationship between arctic and antartic Pycnogonida can be demonstrated, and several arctic species carry their young until they are much more advanced than do antarctic species.