tadpole

tadpole

Tadpole is the name given to the anuran larvae (such as frogs and toads), caudate and ápodes.

Characteristics

Metamorphosis Bufo bufo species.
It has the shape of fish, with a long, muscular tail, without members and with external gills, in the early stages.

Tadpoles usually develop in water and undergo metamorphoses before reaching the adult stage. In the initial phase of his life the tadpole breathes through external gills that are later absorbed by the animal to generate internal gills. In terrestrial species, these are replaced later by the lungs when approaching adulthood.

Other changes include the elimination of the tail and the appearance members first subsequent after earlier.

Tadpoles live in ponds, small pools of standing water, or even water accumulated in certain plants such as bromeliads and in rivers - in this case, can show body adaptations, such as suction cups, to avoid being swept away by the current.

In some species, the tadpoles feed on plankton and larvae of insects, others are carnivores and may even consume other tadpoles - these forms have a kind of horny beak in the mouth with small teeth.