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A tadpole or polliwog (also spelled pollywog) is the larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial. Tadpoles have some fish-like features that may not be found in adult amphibians such as a lateral line, gills and swimming tails.
As a generalized system, Gosner stages may not be adequate for describing development of some anuran tadpoles. [3] For example, in the torrent-dwelling tadpoles of Ansonia longidigita and Meristogenys orphnocnemis , the usual Gosner stages become inappropriate beyond the stage 41 because the tadpoles retain their oral disc longer than the ...
The juvenile may be a tadpole for 3 to 4 years before undergoing metamorphosis. [8] However, this rate heavily varies depending on the temperature and elevation of the area. [7] There are two classes of tadpoles: first year tadpoles and second year tadpoles. Metamorphosis tends to happen the second summer of tadpole life.
Tadpoles are highly vulnerable to being eaten by fish, newts, predatory diving beetles, and birds, particularly water birds, such as storks and herons and domestic ducks. Some tadpoles, including those of the cane toad (Rhinella marina), are poisonous. The tadpole stage may be as short as a week in explosive breeders or it may last through one ...
Tadpoles transform in about 23–67 days, and unlike other anurans, they filter-feed on plankton. [25] The tadpoles' heads are pointed with lateral eyes, and they appear dorsolaterally flattened when viewed from above. Their bodies are dark in color (almost jet black), and are flecked with blue.
In the 2010 study, all of the egg clutches and the tadpoles were found at least 3 m (9.8 ft) from the nearest pool of water. The eggs and tadpoles are instead kept moist by dripping water from leaves and rainfall. [8] The tadpoles have finless tails and strongly hooked beaks which enable them to skip along hard surfaces rather than swim.
As tadpoles, the squirrel tree frog is preyed upon by dragonfly nymphs, giant water bugs, predatory fish and newts. [2] [3] Once the tadpoles metamorphose, the predators of the frogs change to small mammals, other frogs, snakes, birds. [2] To reduce the danger of being eaten as tadpoles, they use dense vegetation as cover. [4]
The tadpole reaches a maximum length of 18 to 19.4 mm (0.71 to 0.76 in). It is grayish olive or grape-green dorsally and purplish ventrally. The tail has 6 or 7 black saddle marks. [11] [12] The tadpole completes metamorphosis into a juvenile toadlet in 4 to 6 weeks, and it reaches adulthood and sexual maturity at 1.5 to 2.3 years of age. [5]