Tardigrades
• More than 1,000 species, 0.05–1.2 millimetres long
• Also known as water ‘bears’ (due to how they
) and ‘moss piglets’
Physical appearance
• A
round body and four pairs of legs
• Claws or
for gripping
• Absence of respiratory organs
• Body filled with a liquid that carries both
and blood
• Mouth shaped like a
with teeth called stylets
Habitat
• Often found at the bottom of a lake or on plants
• Very resilient and can exist in very low or high
Cryptobiosis
• In dry conditions, they roll into a ball called a ‘tun’.
• They stay alive with a much lower metabolism than usual.
• A type of
ensures their DNA is not damaged.
• Research is underway to find out how many days they can stay alive in
.
Feeding
• Consume liquids, e.g., those found in moss or
• May eat other tardigrades
Conservation status
• They are not considered to be
.