Tardigrade is a microscopic animal found everywhere on Earth – from the deep sea in the mud volcanoes. There are around 1300 species of tardigrades. We are also called water bears or moss piglets.
It has eight limbs with four to eight claws on each. Its body is covered in a tough cuticle, similar to the exoskeletons. It is known for being the most resilient animal, because it can survive extreme conditions such as exposure to extreme temperatures, extreme pressures, radiation and starvation. It can go up to 30 years without food and water.
In extreme dry conditions, it gets into a death-like state called cryptobiosis. It squeezes all the water out of its body, retract its heads and limbs and curl up into a little ball. When conditions improve, it unfurls itself and goes about its business. It sucks the juices from algae, lichens and moss using its tube-shaped mouth.
Picture Credit : Google
