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. 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 Bradypallene Heteronymphon Neonymphon Nymphon Pentanymphon Sexanymphon
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