{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "water-bear",
  "name": "Water Bear",
  "scientificName": "Milnesium tardigradum",
  "category": "Invertebrate",
  "summary": "The water bear (Milnesium tardigradum) is a microscopic tardigrade famous for surviving vacuum, radiation, and decades of desiccation. Adults reach 1 mm and are Least Concern.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Tardigrada",
    "class": "Eutardigrada",
    "order": "Apochela",
    "family": "Milnesiidae",
    "genus": "Milnesium"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 5e-7,
    "lengthM": 0.001,
    "topSpeedKmh": 0.002,
    "lifespanYears": 1
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Milnesium tardigradum"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore (microbes)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Moss moisture films"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "1–2 years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "0.0000001–0.000001 kg"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "up to 0.002 km/h"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Moss and lichen worldwide.",
    "continents": [
      "Europe",
      "Asia",
      "North America",
      "Africa",
      "Oceania",
      "South America",
      "Antarctica"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/water-bear/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/water-bear/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}