The Immortal Microscopic Wheel Animal

Rotifers are nearly invisible creatures that look like spinning wheels under a lens. Some species have survived for millions of years by cloning themselves, completely abandoning the need for sexual reproduction.

These tiny animals are found in almost every body of freshwater on Earth. What makes them truly bizarre is their ability to cheat death by drying out completely and entering a dormant state for years. They can be reanimated with a drop of water, appearing as if no time has passed. Most impressively, they are masters of DNA theft, absorbing genetic material from their environment to evolve rapidly without mates.