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Tardigrades (commonly known as water bears or moss piglets) form the phylum Tardigrada, part of the superphylum Ecdysozoa. They are microscopic, water-dwelling, segmented animals with eight legs. Tardigrades were first described by Johann August Ephraim Goeze in 1773 (kleiner Wasserbär = little water bear). The name Tardigrada means "slow walker" and was given by Lazzaro Spallanzani in 1777. The name water bear comes from the way they walk, reminiscent of a bear's gait...

Yoga bear strikes a pose at Finnish zoo. Tourist captures Santra's stretching routine on camera, and expert says it may be a bear necessity to stay sane. Santra the bear practises her yoga stretching routine at Ahtari zoo in Finland to the delight of visitors. Not all members of the ursine community waste their time persecuting park rangers, corrupting their diminutive sidekicks and gorging themselves on stolen picnic baskets...

A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, that is separate from plants, animals and bacteria. One major difference is that fungal cells have cell walls that contain chitin, unlike the cell walls of plants, which contain cellulose...

This is a kitty with a "cat" spelled in its fur. The genetics of cat coat coloration, pattern, length, and texture is a complex subject, and many different genes are involved. The agouti gene, A/a which codes for agouti signaling protein...

Pinnipeds (from Latin pinna, wing or fin, and ped-, foot) or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals comprising the families Odobenidae (the walrus), Otariidae (eared seals, including sea lions and fur seals), and Phocidae (earless seals). Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and barrel-shaped. Their bodies are well adapted to the aquatic habitat where they spend most of their lives. Their limbs consist of short, wide, flat flippers...

A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae (sometimes classified instead as the subfamily Crocodylinae). The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e. the true crocodiles, the alligators and caimans (family Alligatoridae) and the gharials (family Gavialidae), as well as the Crocodylomorpha which includes prehistoric crocodile relatives and ancestors...

A family living in Colorado Springs wondered why the water barrel in their backyard was almost empty every week. So they set up a camera... Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located just east of the geographic center of the state and 61 miles (98 km) south of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver...

From one of visitors: "In May 2009 I made my 5th visit to the infamous Pata Zoo in Bangkok, Thailand. Located on the top two floors of the Pata department store this zoo has taken a huge amount of critical comment over the years. Much of this is, I believe, simply due to location. It puts me in mind of Blackpool Tower Zoo which I remember from the sixties in the UK. It cost me a hefty 200 Baht to get in but this was 'falang' price (Thai's were less than 100 Baht)...