Happy middle of the week, everyone! I trust that you have been enjoying the week so far and have been anxiously awaiting the newest Wild Fact. Well I am happy to say that the wait is over! To celebrate hump day we are going to talk about a bear that absolutely loves the water. Of course, I am talking about the amazing Water Bear. What? You have never heard of the Water Bear? Well, keep reading to find out a little more about this microscopic barrel of fun.
Okay, so by now, you have probably realized that the Water Bear isn’t actually a bear. Basically, the only things they have in common with a regular ol’ bear is the way they walk…..oh and they also hibernate. So what does a Water Bear look like? Well, the length of the Water Bear is typically between 0.3 to 0.5 mm (0.012 – 0.02 inches), so clearly they are not the largest animal in the world. Their bodies have five segments, if you include the head, with 4 pairs of legs. Each leg obviously has a foot and each foot has anywhere between 4 to 8 claws. So far, these creatures sound like something you would see in space.
Actually, these little creatures have survived in space. Believe it or not, we have exposed the Water Bear to the harsh elements of space, including harmful amounts of radiation. This would instantly kill a human and most other animals, but the hardy Water Bear actually survived. Whenever, the environment of the Water Bear gets unbearable, they will go into a state called Cryptobiosis, which means they basically shut everything off. The ultimate hibernation! In this state, these creepy little critters have been able to withstand intense heat (151 degrees Celsius), freezing cold (-272 degrees Celsius), high pressure (1200 times higher than atmospheric pressure) and have even been able to survive 10 years without water. To sum it all up, the Water Bear has Super-Powers….Oh and I don’t think Kryptonite has any impact on them.
Water Bear Fast Fact – So what does a durable bear such as this need to fuel itself? Well, this microscopic superhero keeps its body running by following a strict diet of plant cells, algae and very small invertebrates. Maybe this type of diet will turn you into a Superhero as well. Can’t hurt to try, right?
That does it for today’s featured animal. Tune in tomorrow for another thrilling episode of Wild Facts. Enjoy the rest of your day.
