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Mopsechiniscus franciscae
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Tardigrada
Class:	Heterotardigrada
Order:	Echiniscoidea
Family:	Echiniscidae
Genus:	Mopsechiniscus
Species:	M. franciscae
Binomial name
Mopsechiniscus franciscae Guidetti et al., 2014

Mopsechiniscus franciscae is a species of tardigrade native to Antarctica. One of the most resilient species on Earth, it can survive conditions such as extreme temperatures, high pressure, poison, dehydration, radioactivity, and even vacuum, partly due to its ability to go into hibernation when deprived of water. Found in samples of moss growing on gravel along the shore of Victoria Land, the species has a reddish color, the gut can appear green after feeding. Males measure a quarter of a millimeter in length, and females are 50 percent larger.

References

1. Guidetti, Roberto; Rebecchi, Lorena; Cesari, Michele; McInnes, Sandra J. (18 May 2014). "Mopsechiniscus franciscae, a new species of a rare genus of Tardigrada from continental Antarctica". Polar Biology. 37 (9): 1221–1233. doi:10.1007/s00300-014-1514-x. S2CID 11304433.
2. Sarah Zielinski (13 July 2014). "New water bear species found in Antarctica". Science News. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
3. Sarah Thomas (17 July 2014). "New Water Bear Species Found In Antarctica". International Business Times. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.

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