Water bear. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a water bear (Stygarctus sp.). This tiny animal has four pairs of stumpy legs (down left an

---

Water bear. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a water bear (Stygarctus sp.). This tiny animal has four pairs of stumpy legs (down left and right), each one ending in several curved claws, which it uses to cling to sand or soil. Water bears live in coastal waters, ditches, lakes and even water films on moss clumps. In these environments they must be able to withstand drastic temperature changes and periods of complete dessication. To do this, they enter a dehydrated capsule state known as a \barrel\". They can survive in this form for years, returning to life when they again encounter water. Magnification: x1,000 at 5x7cm size. x1675 at 4x5\""

---

Size: 2123px × 3030px
Photo credit: © DAVID SCHARF/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, aquatic, bear, biology, coloured, drought-resistant, invertebrate, invertebrates, meiofauna, microbiology, microscopic, nature, sem, sp., stygarctus, tardigrada, tardigrade, water, waterbear, wildlife, zoology