Tardigrade

Tardigrade

(Creature)

Amphibious

Animal

Adjective

Tardigrade

Source: Howl of the Wild, pg(s). 187

Type

Vermin
(aquatic)

Environment

Any

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Source: Ultimate Wilderness, pg(s). 208

This article might have further canon details available on StarfinderWiki.

Tardigrades, also called water bears, are tiny insect-like animals normally the size of a width of hair.

Appearance

Tardigrades are tiny eight-legged animals that vaguely resemble an insectile bear when swimming in water. Tardigrades have eyespots instead of eyes, which limits their sight to a relatively short range of 30 feet regardless of the creature's size.

Abilities

When severely injured or dying of starvation, suffocation, or exposure to extreme environments or other stressors, a tardigrade immediately curls up in a dehydrated tun state of unconsciousness. While in this state it no longer requires food, water, or air, becomes nearly invulnerable to harm, and is impervious to both vacuum and extreme pressure.

A tardigrade can enter a tun state up to once per week but cannot voluntarily leave it. Its hibernation ends only when it is rehydrated by being covered in a significant amount of water. The process of restoration also rapidly regenerates its health.

Habitat and ecology

Tardigrades are most commonly encountered in bodies of water but can survive anywhere.

Tardigrades normally eat patches of bacteria, fungus, and plant matter.

Variants

As familiars

Some tardigrades grow to sizes as large as one foot in length. These tardigrades often live in colonies of up to 20 in number, and some are taken as familiars by spellcasters as they grant their companion a share of their fortitude.

Giant tardigrades

When exposed to high levels of magic, tardigrades can grow to sizes of 15 feet. Giant tardigrades retain the extreme resistance to harm of lesser forms of tardigrades, including spirit and void energy, and become even more resilient when forced into a tun state.

Swarms

Large groups of tardigrades can form a swarm. When part of the swarm is harmed and enters a tun state, the rest of the swarm carries their fallen companions. These tun marbles make stepping through a tardigrade swarm more difficult than a normal swarm.

External links

• Tardigrade (real-world animal) on Wikipedia