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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.
The behavior of an amphibian hatchling, commonly referred to as a tadpole, is controlled by a few thousand neurons. [4] 99% of a Xenopus hatchling's first day after hatching is spent hanging from a thread of mucus secreted from near its mouth will eventually form; if it becomes detached from this thread, it will swim back and become reattached, usually within ten seconds. [4]
"Fewer than a dozen of the 6455 species of frogs in the world are known to have internal fertilization, and of these, all but the new species either deposit fertilized eggs or give birth to froglets."
The tadpoles then swim out into the open water and rapidly complete their development. [121] Madagascan burrowing frogs are less fossorial and mostly bury themselves in leaf litter. One of these, the green burrowing frog ( Scaphiophryne marmorata ), has a flattened head with a short snout and well-developed metatarsal tubercles on its hind feet ...
Frogs have a two-stage life cycle, with the aquatic tadpole larva metamorphosing into the adult form. This tadpole was in the late stages of metamorphosis. Adults of this species are a similar ...
The loss of some tadpoles in the metamorphosis from tadpole to frog is a unique feature of R. darwinii. This observation is likely explained by these hypotheses: The tadpoles that did not survive were converted into nutrition for the foster male and he digested them. [13] The tadpoles died in the vocal sac of the foster male.
Tadpoles typically hatch within 48 hours, but the period can vary from 14 hours to almost a week. [32] This process usually involves thousands of tadpoles—which are small, black, and have short tails—forming into groups. Between 12 and 60 days are needed for the tadpoles to develop into juveniles, with four weeks being typical. [32]
During the final stages of transformation when the tadpoles have four limbs and a tail, they stop feeding for a short time while their mouths widen and their digestive systems adjust from herbivorous to carnivorous. Pacific tree frogs mature quickly, and usually mate the season after metamorphosis. They can live up to eight years in captivity.