Tardigrades
Living in moss
Tardigrades are small segmented animals, about 0.5mm in length, with four pairs of legs. They are colloquially known as moss piglets and are noted for being extremely resiliant to all adverse conditions and are known to have survived all five mass extinctions that the earth has been through. Most are plant eaters and are very common in moss patches.
Photograph detail
Slide 1: Tardigrade from the moss Hypnum cupressiforme, churchyard entrance. December.
Slide 2: Tardigrade from the moss Hypnum cupressiforme, churchyard entrance. Top (dorsal) view. December.
Slide 3: Tardigrade from the moss Hypnum cupressiforme, churchyard entrance. December.
Slide 4: Churchyard entrance wall with mosses and lichens. December.