Nymphonidae

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.

Nymphonidae
The pycnogonid Nymphon leptocheles grazes on a hydroid Tubularia indivisa.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Chelicerata
Class:
Pycnogonida
Order:
Pantopoda
Family:
Nymphonidae
Genera

Boreonymphon
Bradypallene
Heteronymphon
Neonymphon
Nymphon
Pentanymphon
Sexanymphon

Diversity
7 genera, 250 species

Taxonomy

Seven genera are currently recognized:[2]

  • 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 (2 species)
  • Sexanymphon Hedgpeth & Fry, 1964 (1 species)

Selected species

References
  1. Nymphon stroemi at Marine Species Identification Portal.
  2. Bamber, R.N., El Nagar, A. & Staples, D. (Eds) (2014). Pycnobase: World Pycnogonida Database. Accessed at http://www.marinespecies.org/pycnobase on 2014-10-30


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