Tardigrades are best described as what type of life form?

Tardigrades are best described as what type of life form?

• A. Micro-animals
• B. Macro-animals
• C. Plants
• D. Fungi

Answer: (A)

Tardigrades are tiny multicellular organisms that move and feed like animals. They belong to the animal group and are invertebrates, yet they are microscopic, usually well under a millimeter in length. Because of their small size and animal characteristics, the most accurate label is micro-animals. They’re not plants, which make their own food through photosynthesis, and they’re not fungi, which have a different way of obtaining nutrients. The idea of “macro-animals” would describe larger, easily visible creatures, which tardigrades are not.

Tardigrades are tiny multicellular organisms that move and feed like animals. They belong to the animal group and are invertebrates, yet they are microscopic, usually well under a millimeter in length. Because of their small size and animal characteristics, the most accurate label is micro-animals. They’re not plants, which make their own food through photosynthesis, and they’re not fungi, which have a different way of obtaining nutrients. The idea of “macro-animals” would describe larger, easily visible creatures, which tardigrades are not.