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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 evolution of tetrapods began about 400 million years ago in the Devonian Period with the earliest tetrapods evolved from lobe-finned fishes. [1] Tetrapods (under the apomorphy-based definition used on this page) are categorized as animals in the biological superclass Tetrapoda, which includes all living and extinct amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
The tadpole's head and most of its body are preserved. 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 ...
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 ...
American bullfrog tadpoles have also "showed a preference for habitats containing structure." [45] This may reflect a lesser number of predators in these locations. As they grow, they tend to move into deeper water. The tadpoles initially have three pairs of external gills and several rows of labial teeth.
McGuire described another instance of the tadpole phenomenon to NPR. When he and his colleagues captured and euthanized a frog, out came the tadpoles, and they were alive.
Eggs can hatch in under 30 hours and tadpoles can fully develop in one month. [13] They have wide caudal fins and two rows of labial teeth on the top of their mouths and four rows on the bottom. [14] Tadpoles survive on algae and will occasionally eat other tadpoles, [13] and on rare occasions, recently metamorphosed juveniles. [15]
A magical underwater image of western toad tadpoles has won the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Skip to main content. 24/7 Help. For premium support please call: 800-290-4726 ...