Nematodes are the Antarctic’s most abundant land creature, beating out penguins (as most penguins spend most of their time at sea). And yet you’ll never see one- until you get behind a microscope that is.
Now you may be wondering, how does this tiny, little creature survive in the endless frozen desert that is t
he Antarctic? Well, when conditions get too dry, nematodes have the ability to drop into a death-like state.
They can stay in such a state for months, even years, before they finally revives themselves. First, they pump all the water out of their bodies until they’re dried out (this process in similar to freeze-drying).
Then, they literally just blow around in the wind until the moisture returns. When it does, they suck the water back into their bodies and voila-they’re alive!
They can stay in such a state for months, even years, before they finally revives themselves. First, they pump all the water out of their bodies until they’re dried out (this process in similar to freeze-drying).
Then, they literally just blow around in the wind until the moisture returns. When it does, they suck the water back into their bodies and voila-they’re alive!
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