tadpole

Also known as pollywog, porwigle

thumb|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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Wikidata facts

Image: Tadpoles 10 days.jpg

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Commons category: Tadpoles
Commons gallery: Tadpole

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~9 min read

Article

9 sections

Contents

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.