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metal prints animal metal prints water bear metal prints sem metal prints scanning electron micrograph metal prints tardigrades metal prints invertebrate metal prints aquatic metal prints semi-aquatic metal prints microfauna metal prints biology metal prints zoology metal prints tardigrade metal prints

photographs animal photos water bear photos sem photos scanning electron micrograph photos tardigrades photos invertebrate photos aquatic photos semi-aquatic photos microfauna photos biology photos zoology photos tardigrade photos

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Water bear leg (Echiniscus granulatus). Color enhanced scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a water bear's leg. Water bears (or tardigrades) are tiny invertebrates that live in aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats such as lichen and damp moss. They have four pairs of short legs each with a set of claws at the end. Water bears require water to obtain oxygen by gas exchange. In dry conditions, they can enter a cryptobiotic state of desiccation, known as a tun, to survive. In this state, water bears can survive for up to a decade. Echiniscus granulatus is an herbivorous species that feeds on moss cells. This specimen originated from moss samples in Tubingen, Germany. Water bears are found throughout the world, including regions of extreme temperature, such as hot springs, and extreme pressure, such as deep underwater. They can also survive high levels of radiation and the vacuum of space. Magnification: x1670 when printed 10cm wide.