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Tardigrade Egg

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Tardigrade Egg

A microscopic capsule with extraordinary survival skills/Biology & Ecosystems

Tardigrade eggs are even smaller than the adults, measuring about 50 to 80 micrometers in diameter. Some species produce smooth eggs laid directly onto surfaces, while others produce ornamented eggs with spines, knobs, or filaments that aid in attachment. The eggs can withstand many of the same extreme conditions as adults, including desiccation and radiation. Incubation takes roughly 5 to 40 days depending on the species and environmental conditions.

Measurements

Diameter65 millionths m
35.5 millionthsVending machine heights
3.3 millionthsWindmill heights

About 65 micrometers

Estimated mass10 trillionths kg
2.9 trillionthsNewborn babies
31.2 trillionCaffeine molecule weights
Incubation time1.3 million s
105LOTR extended editions
394 octillionTime light crosses a proton

About 5 to 40 days

Ornament spine length5 millionths m
104 trillionthsBahrain lengths
118 trillionthsMarathon routes
21.7 millionthsWine glass heights
Eggs per clutch6 eggs
5 tenthsEggs in a carton
9.4 hundredthsChess boards

Typical range 1 to 30

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