Bacteria on water bear skin. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showing bacteria on the skin of a water bear (Paramacrobiotus richtersi). The
Bacteria on water bear skin. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showing bacteria on the skin of a water bear (Paramacrobiotus richtersi). The bacteria are clustered around the water bear's sieve-like gas exchange pores (upper right). Water bears (or tardigrades) are tiny invertebrates that live in aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats such as lichen and damp moss. In dry conditions, they can enter a cryptobiotic state of dessication, known as a tun, to survive. In this state, water bears can survive for up to a decade. Paramacrobiotus richtersi is a carnivorous species that feeds on nematodes, rotifers and protozoa. This specimen originated from moss samples in Tubingen, Germany. Water bears are found throughout the world, including regions of extreme temperature, such as hot springs, and extreme pressure, such as deep underwater. They can also survive the high levels of radiation and vacuum of space. Magnification: x6250 when printed 10cm wide.
Size: 4507px × 3888px
Photo credit: © EYE OF SCIENCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1, animal, aquatic, bacteria, bacterium, bear, biological, biology, breathing, carnivore, carnivorous, coloured, cryptobiotic, drought, europe, european, exchange, extremophile, false-coloured, fauna, foot, gas, germany, invertebrate, leg, moss, nature, opening, paramacrobiotus, piglets, polyextremophile, pore, pores, resistant, richtersi, sem, single, tardigrada, tardigrade, tardigrades, tubingen, tun, water, waterbear, wildlife, zoological, zoology
