Frog Metamorphosis

Additional Frog Resources Types of Frogs Frog Clip Art Frog Pictures

The story of frog metamorphosis continues to be told year after year in schools and homes around the world.

Its long shelf-life might be partially attributed to both timing and location.

In less than three months, almost anyone living near a pond or a wetland area, can watch as a tadpole slowly develops into a frog.

Frog metamorphosis, like complete insect metamorphosis, is defined as a four stage process. However, the stages are different. They go from eggs, to tadpoles to froglets to adults.

The process is seasonal, usually starting with early spring mating. Some species also produce a summer brood.

Females typically lay large jelly-like eggs masses in the nearby water. Depending on the species, the eggs can hatch into tadpoles in a time span ranging anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.

Tadpole development, the most visible part of the process, takes place entirely in the water. Again, depending on the species, this stage can last anywhere from about one to four months.

The first picture shows a tadpole in a legless stage. At this point in time, they breath through gills.

Tadpoles move from a legless to leg stage, with the back legs the first to grow.

Legs help tadpole propulsion in the water, enabling it to feed better and continue to grow. Different tadpole species have different dietary needs, however most eat algae. The second picture shows a tadpole with its back legs.

Eventually, tadpoles begin to develop front legs and lungs to help with life on land.

Once developed, tadpoles, now commonly called froglets, begin their first investigations of land. At this point in time, as the picture shows, they retain their tails.

In a short time, froglets lose their tails and move to land.

© 2005-2007 Patricia A. Michaels