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Tadpoles vary greatly in size, both during their development and between species. For example, in a single family, Megophryidae , length of late-stage tadpoles varies between 3.3 centimetres (1.3 in) and 10.6 centimetres (4.2 in). [ 6 ]
Tadpole of A. americanus. The American toad lays between 2,000-20,000 eggs in two strings which hatch in 3-12 days. [7] The hatched tadpoles, while very small, are recognizable by their skinny tails in relation to the size of their round black bodies.
The eggs hatch into tadpoles, which feed and grow over the course of several months, develop limbs, lose their tails and eventually undergo metamorphosis into juvenile toads. They may overwinter as tadpoles, becoming exceptionally large in the process. [3]
The American spadefoot toads are of typical shape to most fossorial (or burrowing) frogs. They are round, with short legs and protruding eyes. As suggested by their name, these frogs have hard, keratinous protrusions present on their feet, which help them to dig. Like most fossorial frogs, they dig backwards into the ground. [1]
[55] [56] The eggs and larvae are unpalatable to many salamanders and fish, but the high levels of activity of the tadpoles may make them more noticeable to a predator not deterred by their unpleasant taste. Humans hunt bullfrogs as game and consume their legs. Adult frogs try to escape by splashing and leaping into deep water.
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.
The researchers said the fossil, measuring 16 centimeters (6.3 inches) long, sheds light on the evolution of frogs and toads, showing that tadpoles today are largely unchanged from their ...
Tadpoles require cool streams with smooth-surfaced stones with a minimum diameter of 55 mm (2.2 in). Tadpoles probably spend most of their time attached to such substrates by a large oral sucker . The large, sucker-like mouth parts of the tadpoles are a second distinctive feature of the species, enabling survival in turbulent water unsuitable ...