Life Cycle of Tadpoles
Tadpoles, also known as polliwogs, are immature frogs. The duration of a tadpole's life cycle depends on the climate of its habitat. In a mild habitat, the entire process takes about four to five months.
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Egg
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The life cycle of a tadpole begins with an egg. The egg stage is a vulnerable stage in the life of a tadpole. Different species of frogs have different strategies for laying eggs to minimize risk of threat from predators.
Tadpole
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The tadpole hatches from an egg. Tadpoles vary in appearance according to which species of frog they are. In general, tadpoles are more fishlike; they have oval bodies and long, flat tails. Tadpoles also have gills that help them breathe.
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Tadpole with Legs
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A tadpole will maintain the appearance it had when it hatched for anywhere from three to 21 one days, depending on the type of frog. After that, it begins to change. The tadpole begins to grow hind legs. After the hind legs form, the front legs begin to grow. This stage is when the tadpole acquires more froglike physical features. Its head becomes more hard, the tail decreases in length and its lungs are nearing full development. This stage is complete in about five to eight weeks.
Froglet
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The tadpole transforms into a froglet after about two to four months, depending on species. In this stage, the tadpole has almost transformed fully into a frog. It breathes through lungs and gills. It has developed hind and front legs, yet it still has evidence of a tail.
Frog
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An adult frog no longer has a tail and breathes completely through its lungs at this stage. A frog usually reaches this stage after four to six months, depending on type.
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- Photo Credit jurvetson/Flickr.com
