Tardigrades, commonly called water bears, are microscopic animals that have a reputation for being indestructible. They are found all over the earth, and can survive extreme temperatures, extreme pressure, dehydration, and lack of air. Yet they are quite vulnerable when they are newborns. Are they born, or do they hatch? In this strange sequence, it seems like both.
There are many species of tardigrade, and they reproduce sexually by several different methods. In the species shown here, the male deposits sperm under the female's cuticle, or outer shell. When she molts, she deposits eggs into the discarded skin, where they are fertilized. The discarded cuticle provides an extra layer of protection. When they hatch, the young water bears must find the head opening in their mother's skin, which is much harder to pierce than their own eggshells were. Yes, it's strange, but it works for them. Watch the "birthing" process in this 1000X magnification. -via Born in Space