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For the final day of #InverteFest I'm going to do a thread celebrating tardigrades 
These tiny animals are also known as "water bears" or "moss piglets". Here's one on the tip of a moss leaf
#Tardigrade #WaterBear #TardigradeTuesday 1/n
These tiny animals are also known as "water bears" or "moss piglets". Here's one on the tip of a moss leaf
#Tardigrade #WaterBear #TardigradeTuesday 1/n
Tardigrade species vary in size and colour, and can be identified by a number of features such as their claws, egg details, and their feeding apparatus.
These are a few of my favourite tardigrades
2/n
These are a few of my favourite tardigrades
2/n
A very interesting group are the Heterotardigrades, which have spines, thorns & armour plates. They're usually orange or red in colour, with a pointed bear-like face 
I find them most often in moss gathered from trees. They're extremely small and slow!
3/n #InverteFest
I find them most often in moss gathered from trees. They're extremely small and slow!
3/n #InverteFest
The name tardigrade means "slow-stepping".
They often appear quite clumsy as they move around under a microscope
which is part of the reason I love them.
Here's one bumping into a rock.
4/n #InverteFest #Tardigrade
They often appear quite clumsy as they move around under a microscope
which is part of the reason I love them.Here's one bumping into a rock.
4/n #InverteFest #Tardigrade
Tardigrades feed on fluids - often from plant cells, but they can also eat other micro organisms!
This sometimes doesn't end well....
5/n #InverteFest #Tardigrade
This sometimes doesn't end well....
5/n #InverteFest #Tardigrade
But after tardigrades have eaten, they need to excrete their waste.
Here are three different tardigrade poop moments!
(I was actually pretty excited to film these)
7/n #InverteFest #Tardigrade #WaterBear
Here are three different tardigrade poop moments!
(I was actually pretty excited to film these)
7/n #InverteFest #Tardigrade #WaterBear
One of the most interesting #tardigrade tricks is going dormant when conditions aren't suitable.
This is known as the "tun" state
In the video below, the tardi was dried out & in tun state, but it became active when I added water again
8/n #InverteFest
This is known as the "tun" state
In the video below, the tardi was dried out & in tun state, but it became active when I added water again
8/n #InverteFest
In many #tardigrade species the females will lay their eggs when they moult, leaving the eggs to develop inside the shed skin
I absolutely love seeing this
9/n #InverteFest
I absolutely love seeing this
9/n #InverteFest
Here are before & after photos of tardigrade eggs, with a video of one of the babies! 
10/n #InverteFest #Tardigrade #WaterBear #Baby
10/n #InverteFest #Tardigrade #WaterBear #Baby
Tardigrades live everywhere - in thin water films on moss and lichen, in puddles, rivers, and the ocean. 
I haven't yet found a marine tardigrade, but here's a very beautiful example from @rmartinledo!
They have such incredible feet!
https://twitter.com/rmartinledo/status/1272894019127951363?s=20
11/n
I haven't yet found a marine tardigrade, but here's a very beautiful example from @rmartinledo!
They have such incredible feet!
https://twitter.com/rmartinledo/status/1272894019127951363?s=20
11/n
And finally, Iâll wrap up this thread with a short video about #tardigrade fossils 
Theyâve been around a long time!
I hope youâve enjoyed celebrating these lovely little animals with me
12/12 #InverteFest #WaterBear #Fossil
Theyâve been around a long time!
I hope youâve enjoyed celebrating these lovely little animals with me
12/12 #InverteFest #WaterBear #Fossil
