This is it next to a rotifer.

I'm almost done with a microbes /w music video and I just cannot find any leads on this fella. I'm not so versed in microscopy though. I found this guy in a stream. I got a good amount of soil and moss in the sample. There also happens to be an invasive snail population in that stream called a mud snail.

I could try to upload a video somewhere of it if any of y'all think that would help.

Have you considered if it could be a bristle worm? I haven't seen them under darkfield, so I'm not very confident at all, but the size is right.

I just looked into that a bit I don't think it is a bristle worm. It seems to have a foot to grab onto stuff with. This foot is really throwing me for a loop. Otherwise I would just think it is a worm of some kind.

Thanks anyways!

Edit: These toes really give me rotifer vibes, but the rest of the fella does not give rotifer vibes.

The feet look really tiny, too tiny to be a water bear? The body is segmented and it looks like a digestive tube, which are all pro water bear signs.

What a mysterious little friend

https://www.pcwracolorado.org/water-bears-tardigrade

Yeah the feet don't move like a water bear. I see the resemblance from the top down angles. I'm starting to lean towards it being a larvae of some kind.

This is a picture of a midge fly larvae:

My guy definitely isn't that, but it has the segmented body and foot at the back. So maybe mystery dude is some other insect larvae?

Oh god midge fly larvae are so gross lol.

Sorry I couldn't help but thanks for sharing your images!

Awe I think they are cute! They have little 'hands' near their head. My YouTube profile picture is a midge fly larvae:

https://youtube.com/@parkersmicrobes

You can't tell me that that little guy doesn't tug on your heart strings.

They are so much more gross in bright field

Ah yeah I see that lol. That's a really nice photo even though it is gross. It has great detail.