| Most frogs have a life cycle with two distinct stages, typically living in water as young and on land as adults. Adult frogs lay large numbers of eggs in water or other moist places (A). The eggs hatch into small, fishlike larvae called tadpoles (B), which grow larger as they feed on algae and bits of plant material in the water (C). As it begins metamorphosis, or change into the adult body form, the tadpole grows hind limbs (D). After both pairs of limbs are complete and the animal has exchanged its gills for lungs, the young frog crawls out on land (E). The frog resorbs the rest of its tail and continues to grow until it reaches its adult body size (F). |
Hotmail
