(Photo: Dai Suzuki et al. / PLOS ONE)
Which is probably longer than I could. In fact, longer than any other known creature. Liquid nitrogen has a temperature of -321°F. The Tardigrade Ramazzottius, a microorganism, and the larvae of the Chymomyza costata, a type of fly, can survive immersed in liquid nitrogen. But only for up to an hour.
The Ozobranchus jantseanus, a leech found in freshwater turtles in East Asia, is far more durable. Some of these leeches have survived 2.5 years at a temperature of -130°F. Researchers in Japan also found that they could survive while immersed in liquid nitrogen for a full day. They aren't sure how. It's especially odd because these leeches do not encounter such extreme cold in their natural habitats.
Something tougher than the water bear (Tardigrada)? Wow!
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With this kind of research do they start with the larger animals and work their way down? If so, that's a very depressing field to work in.
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