Johann Goeze First Described Tardigrades in 1773
He called them little water bears, and Lazzaro Spallanzani gave them the name Tardigrada in 1777.
Related Facts
Tardigrade41 views
Tardigrades Have Eight Legs With Claws
Each stubby leg ends in claws that help them grip moss and lichens.
Tardigrade54 views
Tardigrades Survive Drying Out by Entering a State Called Cryptobiosis
They shrivel into a dry form called a tun and can revive when water returns.
Tardigrade38 views
Tardigrades Are Usually Less Than a Millimeter Long
They can be seen only under a microscope.
Tardigrade42 views
Tardigrades Are Also Called Water Bears or Moss Piglets
Their plump bodies and slow gait inspired the nicknames.