Macrobiotus

Macrobiotus is a genus of tardigrades consisting of about 100 species within the family Macrobiotidae. Of genera within the phylum Tardigrada, Macrobiotus is one of the most species-abundant. Macrobiotus hufelandi, identified by German researcher Carl August Sigismund Schultze in 1834, is recognized as the first taxonomically named tardigrade species. By extension, Macrobiotus was the first ever described tardigrade genus. Macrobiotus shares similarities to other tardigrade genera, particularly in moulting a non-living cuticle over multiple life stages and robust stress tolerance mechanisms. However, Macrobiotus tends to be differentiated from other tardigrades by being one of few genera that freely lay ornamented eggs in reproduction. This genera has a relatively diverse distribution in both terrestrial and aquatic environments.