Antarctic Springtails

by National Geo staff

Another Antarctic critter blessed with antifreeze is the Antarctic springtail. Though only one to 2 mm long, the springtail is the continent’s biggest land animal.

“It’s a giant in its environment,” Huw Griffiths, a marine biogeographer at the British Antarctic Survey said. (Seagoing animals such as seals and penguins are not considered land animals.) What’s more, “these tiny animals can survive being frozen solid and defrosted on a regular basis,” Griffiths said. “Put them in a freezer, and they’ll happily walk around again.”

(via: National Geo)           (photo: British Antarctic Survey)

Notes

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