Glacier Mice: The Herd-Like Moss Balls That Baffle Scientists
Glacier mice are fuzzy green balls of moss that live on glaciers and move in coordinated herds, puzzling researchers. Found from Alaska to Uganda, these colonies host tiny creatures like water bears and springtails. Their movement, averaging 2.5 cm per day, appears non-random and may result from the sun melting ice unevenly around them. They can persist for six years or more, thriving in an ecosystem that seems inhospitable.
Their movement across the ice appears to be non-random, taking the form of herd-like behavior.