An Immortal Creature

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BY JAYASYALINY JAYARAJ

WITH more than 1000 species identified, tardigrades commonly known as little water bears or moss piglet are micro animals which can only be seen under a microscope. They are at most only one millimetre long. Tardigrade was first described in 1773 by a German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze. It was initially named by an Italian biologist as “Tardigrada” which means “slow steppers”.

What does a tardigrade look like?

THESE cute water bears are far, far smaller than you think they are. They are known to
probably be just heads with legs in appearance. They have short and plump, compact bodies, four leg-bearing segments with a pair of clawed limbs each and a stubby head
tipped by toothy mouth ring.

Why is it known as an “immortal” organism?

IT IS ALMOST impossible to kill a