They can be found along the shores of ponds, in the moist foliage of mosses and liverworts. They are difficult to see since they are nearly transparent and tinted grey to brown in colour. Since they are nearly transparent, you can see inside them when using a magnifying glass.
Water bears have four pairs of legs.
Each leg has two branched claws that grasp onto the plants. The water bear eats algae and the plants upon which it lives. It has two eye spots on its leading end. The water bear moves by slowly lumbering along in a bear-like walk. The water bear receives its name from the way it moves and its fat bear-like shape.