These are occasionally found on lagoon, pinnacle and seaward reefs, usually under rocks.
Eggs are produced by the female and can often be seen in the upper portions of the legs. As the female releases the eggs, they are fertilized by the male, who then gathers them up into a ball and carries them with a pair of specialized appendages called ovigers until hatching. The photos below show different males with balls of whitish eggs under their bodies.
The light orange appendage at the front of the body (right side of the photo below) is the proboscis used for feeding. We do not know the specific food for this species, but pycnogonids are carnivores, generally feeding on animals such as anemones and sponges.
A pair, the male carrying the egg mass.
Created 27 March 2019