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Tardigrada
(redirected from tardigrade)

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Tardigrada [tär′dig·rə·də]
(invertebrate zoology)
A class of microscopic, bilaterally symmetrical invertebrates in the subphylum Malacopoda; the body consists of an anterior prostomium and five segments surrounded by a soft, nonchitinous cuticle, with four pairs of ventrolateral legs.


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Earlier, on the surface, she sampled a gooey puddle and found a tardigrade, a microscopic animal resembling a gummy bear with a tubular mouth for sucking algae (see photo, bottom right).
Tardigrades, or water bears, also are on the prowl but more at a lumber than a hop.
Scientists have estimated, for example, that without dormant periods a tardigrade would live for less than a year, while one that frequented the anhydrobiotic state might well reach the ripe old age of 60 years.
 
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