Introduction to the Tardigrada

Water Bears

The Cephalorhyncha are a group of ecdysozoan animals

Roundworms : The image at left shows the tardigrade Echiniscus as viewed with an SEM. (Click on either of the pictures above for a larger image).

To find out more about these tiny animals try starting with the International Association of Meiobenthologists, whose members study all manner of tiny creatures within sediments (not just tardigrades).

Tardigrade diagrams acquired through BIODIDAC, and used according to conditions. Electron micrograph taken from the Biomedia Home Page

Sources:

Aguinaldo, A. M. A., J. M. Turbeville, L. S. Linford, M. C. Rivera, J. R. Garey, R. A. Raff, & J. A. Lake, 1997. Evidence for a clade of nematodes, arthropods and other moulting animals. Nature 387: 489-493.
R. Buchsbaum, M. Buchsbaum, J. Pearse, & V. Pearse, 1987. Animals Without Backbones. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
T. I. Storer, R. L. Usinger, R. C. Stebbins, & J. W. Nybakken, 1979. General Zoology, 6th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.