tardigrade
/ˈtɑrdɪˌɡreɪd/
noun
- A tiny, water-dwelling animal with eight legs, known for surviving extreme conditions like heat, cold, and radiation; also called a water bear.
- Under a microscope, a tardigrade looks like a tiny bear with a wrinkled face.
- The tardigrade can live for decades without water by entering a dormant state.
- Scientists sent tardigrades into space to study how they survive in a vacuum.