tardigrade; water bear
A microscopic, water-dwelling animal known for its extreme resilience. In Japanese, the katakana form クマムシ is the most common spelling.
Tardigrades are known for their resistance to desiccation and radiation.
I observed tardigrades in the moss under a microscope.
Katakana spelling is standard for this organism; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and may not be recognized by all readers; prefer kana.
Formed from 熊 and 虫, referring to the animal’s bear-like shape and gait under magnification.