tardigrade appreciation headquarters

image courtesy of Willow Gabriel and Bob Goldstein

microinvertebrate enthusiasts, webwanderers, and curiousity seekers -- welcome to the international headquarters of the tardigrade appreciation club. perhaps you, like me, have admired these little critters since your first exposure to them in high school biology class. perhaps you weren't paying attention in class and only learned of them later in life, over coffee with entomologists. perhaps this is first time you've ever heard of such creatures and you're right now wondering what all the fuss is about. while you should be fairly warned that i am far from being an expert (an armchair enthusiast, let's say) i have gathered a few documents that may illuminate things for you, my friend.

the tardigarde [sometimes called water bears or, to my unending delight, moss piglets] is a microscopic organism, of arthropode-like appearance, but so physiologically unusual it has a phylum all its own (tardigarda). lolling about in its warm, mushy home, the tadigrade is kind of the microbiological equivalent to a damp couch potato slacker. invisible to the naked eye and measuring a scant couple hundred microns across, our little friend still packs a wollop when needed. with an impenetrable exoskeleton and powerklaws of doom,this tiny fella is not to be messed with.

but wait! there's more! i have yet to reveal the wee critter's unique secret. you see, when the going gets tough, the tardigrade simply takes a nap until times are better. so whether its troubles be nuclear fallout, overdue library books or prolonged exposure to michael bolton, the tardigrade can handle it. through the magic of cryptoprotectants, the tardigrade can remain in a state of hibernation indefinitely with no tissue damage whatsoever. once the hostile foe or unpleasant environment has passed, the tardigrade awakes as if from a pleasant dream ready again to face the challenges of a new day.

general tardigrade links:

additional reading: