Life Cycle of a Toad

Metamorphosis: Life Cycle of a Frog

Stage #4: Adult Frog

Eleven weeks after the egg was laid, a fully developed frog with lungs, legs, and no tail emerges from the water. This frog will live mostly on land, with occasional swims. The tiny frogs begin to eat insects and worms. Eventually, it will find a mate. The way this is done varies depending on the species. The female lays the eggs, the male fertilizes them, and the whole process begins again.

Stage #2: Tadpole

After its 21 day development period, the embryo leaves its jelly shell, and attaches itself to a weed in the water. This quickly becomes a tadpole, a baby frog. The tadpoles grow until they are big enough to break free into the water. This can take from 3 days to 3 weeks, depending on what kind of frog they will become. They eat very small plants that stick to larger plants in the water. These tiny plants are called algae.

Source:

http://voxpopulinews.net/of-frogs-and-ostriches/

The tadpole has a long tail, and lives in the water. During this stage, the tadpoles face many dangers such as being eaten by other water animals.It is extremely vulnerable, and must rely on its camouflage to protect it. Sometimes the pond dries up and as a result the tadpoles die.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadpole

Stage #1 Egg

Stage#3: Froglet

Eggs

Frogs lay their eggs in floating clumps called a frog spawn. The eggs are layed in water or in wet places.

Frog eggs start as a single cell. Thousands of eggs are normally laid at one time. They have a jelly-like covering that protects the eggs. Female frogs do not always stay and take care of the eggs once they are laid. The eggs develop slowly with only some developing into adults. There are many predators that eat the eggs such as ducks, fish, and insects.The gathering of cells in an egg will form an embryo which lives off of its internal yolk. The yolk will supply the egg with nutrients for 21 days.

After about five weeks, the tadpole begins to change into a froglet . It starts to grow hind legs, which are soon followed with forelegs. Behind their heads bulges appear where their front legs are growing. Their tails become smaller and their lungs begin to develop. These changes prepare the frog for its life on land. They begin wiggle to the surface to breathe in air and the tail becomes larger which makes it now possible for the tadpole to swim. They eat plants and decaying animal matter. Some tadpoles eat frogs eggs and other tadpoles.

Source:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frog_with_eggs.jpg

References

Source:

http://www.lifeinthetechlab.com/Lab_First/FirstLifeCycleOfFrogBooklet/froglets.php#

Over time, the tadpole becomes even more frog-like. They have shed their skin and lips. Its mouth widens, and it loses its horny jaws. The tail becomes much smaller, and the legs grow. The lungs are almost functioning at this point.

Information:

http://www.tooter4kids.com/Frogs/life_cycle_of_frogs.htm