The only rule is: no researching. Just post your guess in the comments for fun. Reading other people’s answers before posting your own is optional. Answer will be posted in the comments later today.
Submitted by reader Susan – thank you!
The only rule is: no researching. Just post your guess in the comments for fun. Reading other people’s answers before posting your own is optional. Answer will be posted in the comments later today.
Submitted by reader Susan – thank you!
Manatee
Man in a Manatee rubber suit?
dust mite?
Louse?
HINT: This is a microscopic animal.
Tardigrade! Otherwise known as water bear. Or, the cutest little chubbsy wubbsy in pond microfauna.
first glance, it looks like some strange costume composed of drab brown bedsheets, and a strange straw in the front.
This was my initial impression as well. Second was a Nauga. If anyone remembers those.
On Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 12:49 PM, YesBiscuit!
Right. They used to make chairs out of their hides…
it DOES look like something in a rubber suit & no I haven’t a clue what it is. Can’t wait to find out though!
It’s an allergic dust mite!
Looks like a space alien!
I’m truly stumped…Looks like something in a manmade suit though…
It’s really microscopic??? I’ll be swizzled….
Bedbug?
Ugh..I hope I don’t have any of these lurking in my house.
ANSWER TIME:
This is a tardigrade. From the link Susan sent me:
That is absolutely fascinating.
It’s a tartigrade or “water bear”
I know it’s microscopic, but it looks like a potato growing roots but with some extra parts!
I’ve read that they’re not sure how long these water bears can live because they keep coming back to life many times and would be a canadate for space exploration because of their ability to withstand extreme tempetures & dehydration. But what good would one be in space? They can’t drive the ship & have no purpose other than eye entertainment in a microscope.
They can’t drive the ship (probably) but they could tell us useful information. For example, if sent to Mars, a rover could be programmed to remove them from the spaceship and place them on the planet surface. Then the rover could collect them after a designated time, they could be sent back to earth and studied. Did they undergo any changes? Are they still capable of reproduction? etc. If water bears can survive on Mars, what other forms of life might be living there?