Ologies with Alie Ward Tardigradology (TINY SEMI-INDESTRUCTIBLE WATER BEAR MOSS PIGLET CREATURES CALLED TARDIGRADES) with Paul Bartels
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Sep 18, 2024 
Join Dr. Paul Bartels, a passionate tardigradologist from Warren Wilson College, as he unveils the secrets of these incredible water bears. Discover their astonishing survival skills, from enduring space to cryptobiosis. He shares quirky details like their potato shape, bizarre mating behaviors, and unique anatomy. Bartels also unpacks the misconceptions about tardigrades in pop culture and the vital role they play in our understanding of biodiversity. Get ready for a fascinating journey into the microscopic world!
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Tardigrade Meme Inaccuracy
- The common tardigrade meme is inaccurate, showing a pink, swimming creature with an anus-like head.
- Real tardigrades are usually white or clear, benthic (bottom-dwelling), and lack the depicted anus-head.
Tardigrade Size Range
- Tardigrades range in size from 1 millimeter (visible to the naked eye) to 35 microns (half a human hair's width).
- The largest tardigrades are called "Tardigrades of Unusual Size" (TOUS).
Undiscovered Species
- The Linnaean shortfall describes the gap between known and unknown species on Earth.
- Microscopic life, poorly studied but vast, plays a crucial role in the world's ecosystems.