Commonly known as 'water bears', tardigrades are a phylum of microscopic animals that can be found living on mosses and lichens all over the world. The name Tardigrada means 'slow walker' which describes their sluggish, deliberate movements. Between these slow movements and their 'teddy bear' like appearance, tardigrades are the only really “cute” invertebrate. Tardigrades, Echiniscus sp., are generally less than 500 micrometers in length and require at least40-power magnification to be seen clearly.