Tadpole (redirected from Tadpoles)

tadpole, larval, aquatic stage of any of the amphibian animals. After hatching from the egg, the tadpole, sometimes called a polliwog, is gill-breathing and legless and propels itself by means of a tail. During the period of metamorphosis it develops the lungs, legs, and other organs of the adult and, in the frog and the toad, loses the tail.

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tadpole

 or polliwog

Aquatic larval stage of frogs and toads. Tadpoles have a short, oval body, broad tail, small mouth, and no external gills. Most are herbivorous, but those of some species are predatory or even cannibalistic. Tadpole metamorphosis follows a pattern of gradual development of forelimbs and hind limbs, resorption of the tail, shortening of the intestine, disappearance of the gills, and development of the lungs. On completion of metamorphosis, the young frog or toad emerges onto land.

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tadpole

the aquatic larva of frogs, toads, etc., which develops from a limbless tailed form with external gills into a form with internal gills, limbs, and a reduced tail

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tadpole [′tad‚pōl]

(vertebrate zoology)

The larva of a frog or toad; at hatching it has a rounded body with a long fin-bordered tail, and the gills are external but shortly become enclosed.

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Tadpole 

the larva of tailless amphibians. Developing from eggs, tadpoles live an aquatic life. They have external gills, a two-chambered heart, a long tail that serves for movement, an adhering organ used for attachment to underwater objects, and lateral line organs: there are no extremities. Tadpoles feed chiefly on plants.

After three or four months of development, metamorphosis takes place. The heart becomes three-chambered, breathing by means of lungs develops, a second circulatory system (respiratory circulation) develops, the gills and gill chamber become reduced, the tail disappears, and the hind legs grow greatly, becoming the basic organs for movement. The horny beak drops off, the mouth enlarges, and the intestine shortens. The sense organs also change. The middle ear chamber develops along with the drum, and the eyes acquire movable lids. The lateral line organs disappear. When these changes are completed, a small frog comes onto dry land with the fully developed extremities of a terrestrial vertebrate.