adj.缓步类的；缓慢的

The Tardigrade is almost dead in the cryptobiotic stage, other than the fact that it can revive itself from this state. 缓步动物门在隐生阶段几乎是处于死亡状态，除非它自己苏醒过来。

And if the experiment works on a virus, they hope to move on to something that is indisputably alive: a tardigrade. 如果在病毒上的实验能够成功，研究者们希望进一步对真正的活物进行实验，比如熊虫。

Because there is no water in the body of the Tardigrade while in a cryptobiotic state to aid metabolism, the Tardigrade cannot go through any physical changes (from self) while dehydrated. 因为在缓步动物的身体里没有水，而在隐生状态下恢复新陈代谢，又不能通过自身的改变来完成。

tardigrade (Milnesium tardigradum) 小斑熊虫

Comparison of tardigrade community structure along altitude gradient 不同海拔缓步动物群落结构的比较