### A brief history of a tiny beast

Tardigrades were discovered in the late 18th century by German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze. Enamored with their teddy bear-like appearance, he came up with the name kleine Wasserbären, which means ‘little water bears’.

Tardigrada, the Latin name of the group, was coined shortly thereafter by Lazzaro Spallanzani, an Italian biologist. The name translates into ‘slowly stepping’ and refers to the creatures’ unhurried gait.

Since then, around 1,300 tardigrade species have been discovered in diverse habitats: from the deep sea to mountain tops.