[colarris (OP)]

I have read they can be found amoungst moss but I have had no luck so far. Is there a particular moss or location they are more likely to be found?

[evan_au]

They are small: Up to 0.5mm, so you need to look for them under a microscope
They are fairly transparent, so they will be hard to see
I suggest getting some damp moss, and break it apart under a microscope.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade

[colarris (OP)]

Thanks for the reply. I have a microscope but no luck so far. Perhaps the moss I have been examining has been to dry.

[Colin2B]

Perhaps the moss I have been examining has been to dry.

They can become dormant and difficult to see if too dry. Try soaking the moss overnight then look at it with a hand lens - best with top or side lighting (try both) against a dark background.
Although they like damp moss, they seem to prefer drying out occasionally so don’t choose moss that’s damp all the time.
When you are looking under the microscope try spacing the cover slip by putting 2 others underneath on either side, it leaves a small gap between slide and cover slip.
Best of luck

[colarris (OP)]

Appreciate the reply and the tip, will certainly try it. Many thanks

[evan_au]

they seem to prefer drying out occasionally so don’t choose moss that’s damp all the time

There are many soft and squishy critters that would thrive in an environment that is damp all the time. But when it dries up, they tend to die.
- Tardigrades enter a form of suspended animation (a "tun" stage) when conditions get too harsh (eg lack of water). They reanimate when water becomes available. They can thrive in an erratic environment that would kill many other animals their size.

[Colin2B]



they seem to prefer drying out occasionally so don’t choose moss that’s damp all the time

- Tardigrades enter a form of suspended animation (a "tun" stage) when conditions get too harsh (eg lack of water). They reanimate when water becomes available. They can thrive in an erratic environment that would kill many other animals their size.

The interesting thing is that they do better in moss that dries occasionally rather than stays wet. You find fewer in sphagnum moss or in damp woodland litter than in a rain gutter. I wonder if you have suggested a survival benefit in “ an erratic environment that would kill many other animals their size”? Perhaps not their size, but somewhat bigger as their predators include nematodes, mites, springtails, insect larvae and parasitic protozoa, all of which might not survive drying out. It’s a thought.