What is tardigrade famous for?

Tardigrades are invertebrates belonging to the phylum Tardigrada. They are related to arthropods (e.g., crustaceans and insects) and nematodes (i.e., roundworms). Also known as water bears, tardigrades are known for their appearance and their ability to survive in extreme environments.

How old is the tardigrade?

Fossils of tardigrades have been dated to the Cambrian period over 500 million years ago, when the first complex animals were evolving. And ever since they were discovered, it has been clear that they are special. Tardigrades were discovered in 1773 by a German pastor named Johann August Ephraim Goeze.

What is the nickname for tardigrades?

moss piglet
Freshwater mosses and lichens are their preferred habitat, hence their nickname, moss piglet. Despite looking squishy, tardigrades are covered in a tough cuticle, similar to the exoskeletons of grasshoppers, praying mantises, and other insects to which they are related.

What does the tardigrade eat?

Most tardigrades eat algae and flowering plants, piercing plant cells and sucking out their contents though their tube-shaped mouths.

What kind of pressure can a tardigrade survive?

Extreme pressure: Tardigrades can survive from vacuum to 6,000 atmospheres, which is equal to 6 times the pressure in the deepest point on Earth, the Mariana Trench (11,000 meters deep). Lethal radiation : Tardigrades can withstand the bombardment of radiation at a dose 1000 times lethal to a human.

Where can tardigrades be found in the world?

They are found almost everywhere, from the Arctic to the equator, from intertidal zones to the deep ocean, and even forest canopies. Specifically, they are found on mosses and lichens, in sand dunes, soil, and leaf litter. Tardigrades can withstand situations as cold as -328°F (less 200°C) or as high as 300°F (148.9°C).

How did tardigrades get their name slow steppers?

They were discovered by a German Pastor, Johann August Ephraim Goeze, who gave them their name meaning “slow steppers”. See the fact file below for more information on the tardigrades or alternatively, you can download our 25-page Tardigrade worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Can a tardigrade survive in the Mariana Trench?

Tardigrades don’t crack under pressure. They are totally fine, even at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. In order to survive, tardigrades can turn their bodies into a glass-like substance. Tardigrades can lose up to 99% of their water content and survive (as “ tun ”) for years.