Tardigrade. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Stygarctus sp., a marine tardigrade or water bear. Tardigrades are tiny, segmented animals,

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Tardigrade. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Stygarctus sp., a marine tardigrade or water bear. Tardigrades are tiny, segmented animals, in length. They are cylindrical in shape and bear four pairs of stumpy legs, each one terminating in a claw for clinging to sand or soil. Tardigrades live in coastal waters, ditches, lakes and moss clumps on rocks, walls & roofs. Such environments are often subject to drastic temperature changes and dessication. In times of drought tardigrades enter a dehydrated \capsule\" state. They can survive for years at a time in this form, swelling up and returning to life when they encounter water. Magnification: x1360 at 5x7cm size. x2140 at 4x5\""

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Size: 2304px × 3033px
Photo credit: © DAVID SCHARF/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, beach, bear, fauna, invertebrate, invertebrates, meio-fauna, nature, sem, sp., stygarctus, tardigrada, tardigrade, water, waterbear, wildlife, zoology