Water Bears

Figures 1–5.Hypsibius cf. scabropygus Cuénot, 1929: 1 habitus (dorso-lateral view) 2–4 caudo-dorsal cuticle with distinct sculpturing – tubercles and tubercles merged into platelets 5 a single caudo-dorsal platelet. (1–3: PCM, 4–5: SEM).

Figures 8–11.Minibiotus formosus sp. n.: 8 habitus (holotype, ventral view) 9 dorsal cuticle with pores (holotype) 10–11 bucco-pharyngeal apparatus (10 dorso-ventral projection, paratype 11 lateral view, paratype). All PCM.

Figures 6–7.Hypsibius cf. scabropygus Cuénot, 1929: 6 bucco-pharyngeal apparatus (dorso-ventral projection, ventral placoids in the insert) 7 claws IV (arrow indicates a small cuticular bar near the posterior claw). (Both PCM).

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

Figures 12–15.Minibiotus formosus sp. n.: 12 leg II with claws, granulation (arrowhead) and a single large pore (arrow) (holotype) 13 claws IV (paratype) 14 egg (mid-section) 15 egg surface with processes. All PCM.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

Katherine Hadley and Jonathan Leibovic, from Casey Dunn's Invertebrate Zoology (Biol 0410) course at Brown University, sing a song about tardigrades. They composed the song, performed it with friends, and made the animation.Visit creaturecast.org for more stories about the unexpected world of Biology.The hand-drawn animations were photographed at the Brown University Science Center (brown.edu/academics/science-center/).