Tardigrades

• more than 1,000 species, 0.05 -1.2 millimetres long

• also known as water 'bears' (due to how they

  1

  move
  ) and 'moss piglets'

Physical appearance

• a

  2

  short
   round body and four pairs of legs

• claws or

  3

  discs / disks
   for gripping

• absence of respiratory organs

• body filled with a liquid that carries both

  4

  oxygen
   and blood

• mouth shaped like a

  5

  tube
   with teeth called stylets

Habitat

• often found at the bottom of a lake or on plants

• very resilient and can exist in very low or high

  6

  temperatures
  .

Cryptobiosis

• In dry conditions, they roll into a ball called a 'tun'.

• They stay alive with a much lower metabolism than usual.

• A type of

  7

  protein
   ensures their DNA is not damaged.

• Research is underway to find out how many days they can stay alive in

  8

  space
  .

Feeding

• consume liquids, e.g., those found in moss or

  9

  seaweed
  

• may eat other tardigrades

Conservation status

• They are not considered to be

  10

  endangered