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Which body parts disappear when a tadpole becomes a frog?
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amphibian
Banded fire salamander (Salamandra terrestris).
During the metamorphosis of a tadpole into a frog, several larval structures are resorbed or disappear as the animal transitions to its adult form. The primary body parts that disappear include:
- Tail: The tadpole’s tail is resorbed by the body, with its cells destroyed and devoured by phagocytic cells.123
- Gills: As the frog develops lungs and begins pulmonary ventilation, the internal gills and their associated blood circulation disappear.123
- Larval mouthparts: The specialized mouthparts used by the tadpole during its larval stage degenerate and are replaced by adult mouthparts.23
Additionally, the tadpole's digestive tract undergoes significant modification, specifically a shortening of the intestine, to accommodate the dietary and physiological shifts required for an adult frog.12