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An illustration of a tardigrade
What’s tiny, has eight legs, and can survive in conditions that would kill many other animals? A tardigrade! Also known as water bears, these critters are only about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Yet they’re some of the toughest creatures on Earth. They can live deep in the ocean, high up on mountains—and can even survive in space.
How? Over millions of years, tardigrades have adapted to different environments. In dry places, tardigrades enter a state of rest called cryptobiosis. Their dormant bodies slow down and use almost no energy until water is available again. This adaptation also helps them survive other conditions, like extreme cold or heat.
“Nature’s really good at finding natural solutions to really difficult problems,” says scientist Melody Clark.
Here’s a look at three more animals that can survive in extreme environments.