| Summary: | The study of pycnogonid diversity and biogeography began in the late nineteenth century with a series of 13 single ship cruises between 1870 and 1915. The rapid expansion of research on sea spiders was made possible by the availability of research ships with powered winches or capstans and the wealth either private or governmental necessary to fund major oceanographic research expeditions. The 13 ships and cruise dates were Voringen (1875), HMS Challenger (1873-1876), Blake (1875-1878), Willem Barents (1878 and 1879), Ingolf (1895-1896), George W. Elder (1899), Southern Cross (1899-1900), Siboga (1899-1900), RRS Discovery (1901-1904), Scotia (1902-1904), Albatross (1900 and 1906), Terra Nova (1910-1914) and Aurora (1911-1914). The results of these cruises identified 13 families of Pycnogonida. Modern taxonomic systems based in part on molecular traits still recognize 10 of the original families recognized by the scientists who analyzed the collections of the earlier workers. Their distribution in the Arctic, Antarctic, Tropical and Boreal seas was established. The vertical abundance and distribution of seven families of Pycnogonida was elucidated from the results of the HMS Challenger expedition.
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