[IELTS Listening] – Tardigrades

Complete the notes. Write ONE WORD ONLY in each gap.

 

Tardigrades

   ● more than 1,000 species, 0.05–1.2 millimetres long

   ● also known as water ‘bears’ (due to how they (31) ) and ‘moss piglets’

Physical appearance

   ● a (32) round body and four pairs of legs

   ● claws or (33) for gripping

   ● absence of respiratory organs

   ● body filled with a liquid that carries both (34) and blood

   ● mouth shaped like a (35) with teeth called stylets

Habitat

   ● often found at the bottom of a lake or on plants

   ● very resilient and can exist in very low or high (36)

Cryptobiosis

   ● In dry conditions, they roll into a ball called a ‘tun’.

   ● They stay alive with a much lower metabolism than usual.

   ● A type of (37) ensures their DNA is not damaged.

   ● Research is underway to find out how many days they can stay alive in (38) .

Feeding

   ● consume liquids, e.g., those found in moss or (39)

   ● may eat other tardigrades

Conservation status

   ● They are not considered to be (40) .