Tardigrada

9.9

Tiny animals with eight legs that live in water or moss and can survive extreme conditions

noun
/ˌtɑrdɪˈɡreɪdə/

Specialized

: tardígrado

Many scientists study Tardigrada because of their incredible resistance to extreme environmental conditions.

Examples

Tardigrada can be found in mosses, lichens, and even deep-sea environments.
You can observe Tardigrada under a microscope, usually found in a drop of water from moss or soil.
The unique anatomy of Tardigrada allows them to survive without water for long periods.
The Tardigrada can survive extreme temperatures.
Did you know that Tardigrada can withstand radiation?
Tardigrada are often considered some of the toughest organisms on Earth due to their ability to survive extreme conditions.
Researchers are fascinated by Tardigrada because they can endure environments that would be lethal to most other life forms.

Surface Forms

Tardigrada singular

Tardigradae plural

Etymology

Tardigrada comes from the Latin parts tardus 'slow' and gradus 'step'. So the name means 'slow step', a handy image to remember these tiny 'water bears' that crawl slowly on moss and in wet places, which is why scientists gave them this name.