tadpole
Sign in to savethumb|286x286px|Common frog (Rana temporaria) tadpole
AI overview
A tadpole is the aquatic larval stage of frogs and toads, characterized by a tail, gills, and a fish-like body that looks very different from the adult form. Tadpoles are important because they represent a fascinating example of metamorphosis in nature, where they gradually transform into air-breathing adults with legs and lungs.
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Article
9 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- General description
- Anura
- Fossil record
- Human use
- Mythology and history
- References
- Further reading
- External links
thumb|286x286px|Common frog (Rana temporaria) tadpole
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 they undergo metamorphosis, they start to develop functional lungs for breathing air, and the diet of tadpoles changes drastically.