4/1/2023 0 Comments Igrade laurent records![]() ![]() For that reason, they're often found living within a thin layer of water – for example, on damp moss or lichen. Incredibly, these super-hardy creatures have also survived for 30 years in lab conditions without food (they feed on the cells of flora and fauna, bacteria and sometimes even other tardigrades).īut although they're highly adaptable, to stay active they need water around their bodies to prevent them drying out and to allow for gas exchange. Water bears are found the world over – from depths of 5 m (16 ft) below the Antarctic ice to tropical rainforests – and in a wide variety of environments – from the sea floor to mountaintops, hot springs and even the interior of volcanoes. There are more than 900 known tardigrade species, the largest being Echiniscoides sigismundi, a marine dweller from Eurasian waters that reaches 1.5 mm (0.05 in) as an adult. Tardigrades may have up to 40,000 cells, although they're of a similar size to single-celled organisms, such as bacteria. ![]() Later, the Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani coined the term "tardigrade" ("slow steppers") for them, because of their unhurried, tortoise-like movements. Their ursine appearance inspired him to dub them kleiner Wasserbär ("little water bears"). These tiny water-dwelling creatures were first described in 1777 by German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze. They may only typically grow to around 1 mm (0.03 in), but tardigrades can endure some of the most demanding conditions on Earth – and even beyond.
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