Tardigrades (/ ˈtɑːrdɪɡreɪdz / ⓘ), [1] known colloquially as water bears or moss piglets, [2] are a phylum of eight-legged segmented micro-animals. They were first described by the German zoologist …

Dec 9, 2025 · Tardigrade, any of more than 1,100 species of tiny invertebrates that make up the phylum Tardigrada. These tiny creatures are considered to be close relatives of arthropods, and they live in a …

Aug 31, 2024 · Tardigrades may be the toughest animals on Earth. They have evolved to live almost anywhere and survive almost anything. Some tardigrades can shrug off conditions that would …

Sep 12, 2024 · If you look under a microscope into the tardigrade's tiny body, you won't find any bones. Instead, tardigrades have a fluid-filled compartment called a hemolymph.

Sep 4, 2025 · According to the World List of Tardigrada, these animals are currently categorized into two recognized classes: Eutardigrada and Heterotardigrada. While the largest tardigrades measure …

Tardigrades can be found almost anywhere on Earth, from the top of the Himalaya mountain range to the bottom of the sea, from icy Antarctica to bubbling hot springs. The teeny-tiny creatures can...

May 17, 2025 · Tardigrades, tiny invertebrates usually less than half a millimeter long, are found all over the world. There are currently around 1,300 known tardigrade species, with about 150 of them being …

Feb 11, 2019 · Tardigrades are aquatic, which means that they need to be surrounded by water to live. Some species live in bodies of water like oceans, seas, lakes, or ponds. Because tardigrades are so …

Oct 19, 2023 · What Are Tardigrades? The tardigrade, better known as a water bear or moss piglet, is the real star in the race of survival.

Jan 18, 2024 · Tardigrades, as they are formally known today, are also sometimes called “moss piglets,” after their chubby, ho-hum appearance and lackadaisical demeanor.