Tardigrade: Check what makes them so special and some hidden facts about these water bears or moss piglets

Have you ever heard of animals that can survive in outer space? Sounds like science fiction, right? But this is true! Meet Tardigrade, a microscopic creature that is one of the toughest creatures on our planet.

To procrastinate, they are often referred to as “water bears” or “moss piglets” because under a microscope they look a bit like chubby, eight-legged bears or piglets. They are very small – most are smaller than the period when this sentence ends! A German scientist first noticed these little guys in 1773 and called them “little water bears.” Later, another scientist named them Tardigrada, which means “slow stepping” because of how they open up.

What is pushing to make them so special?

Source: Shutterstock

What’s really amazing about the postponement is their incredible survival skills. They can handle almost any other organism’s conditions. We’re talking about:

  • Freezing and cold: Is it colder than Antarctica? Tardigrade is no problem.
  • Strong heat: higher than boiling water? They can take a while.
  • Pressure Pressure: The pressure at the bottom of even the deepest trench can be managed.
  • Radiation: They can withstand more radiation than humans.
  • No water: They can completely dry for years even for decades!
  • Outer Space: Yes, they survived the vacuum and radiation of space!

How do stalkers survive when there is little water in their place of residence?

Their secret weapon is the amazing ability to enter a state that is almost like pausing animations. When things get very hard – like their water house is dry, it gets too cold, or there isn’t enough oxygen – the tardigrade curls into a small, dry ball called “TUN”.

To do this, it pushes almost all the water out of the body (for example, over 95%!) and pulls the head and legs. Its physical process was very fast and almost stopped. The special proteins inside its cells act like tiny shields that protect everything when the tardigrade is dried.

When conditions get better – maybe when it rains again, Tardigrade absorbs water, basically regaining life and getting ready to start business. Scientists think they might be able to stay in this Tun State for even a century!

Where can I easily see diving?

These little water bears live up to their name – they need water to be active. But you can find them almost anywhere Some Water: oceans, lakes, rivers, even films on moss, lichens (flake growth on trees and rocks), and soil in your own backyard. They live from the highest mountain to the deepest ocean. But please don’t worry; they don’t live or are completely harmless to us.

What do novels usually eat?

Most postponed like little vegans. They have a sharp texture and look like small needles, which they are used to poke into plant cells, algae or fungi and absorb the juice inside. However, some species are not picky and even eat smaller microscopic organisms such as small worms, or even other dives!

Quick fact sheet

Here is the rapid bankruptcy of these amazing animals:

feature

detail

Common Name

Water bear, moss piglet

size

Ultra-small, usually less than 1 mm (0.04 inches)

look like

Full, divided body, 8 legs and claws

Habitat

There is water everywhere (ocean, freshwater, moss, soil)

diet

Mainly plant/algae juice; some eat small animals

superpower

Survive extreme conditions by turning into a dry “TUN”

life

Active: months to ~2.5 years. Tun State: Possibly decades+

weakness

When active, it cannot be exposed to very hot water for a long time (approximately 100°F/38°C)

How to survive in stealth for a long time?

Incredible Survivor: The stealth has been around for a long time – maybe a billion years! They survived all five major giant extinctions that have caused countless other species on Earth to disappear. Despite humans’ concerns about big problems, these bears just keep on stepping on, ready to curl and wait when needed. They may be small, but they are true advocates of survival.

in conclusion

The Stalker or Water Bear is a small superhero in nature. Despite their microscope size, their unique ability to enter a protective “TUN” state allows them to survive incredibly extremes in the vacuum of space to intense heat and cold. They are indeed one of the most resilient and fascinating creatures on Earth.