pond tadpole

A tadpole is the aquatic larval stage of frogs and toads. Tadpoles have a rounded body with a broad tail and small mouths, lacking external gills which are instead concealed by an operculum. Most tadpoles are vegetarians, feeding on algae and plant matter, though some species are carnivorous.123

During metamorphosis, tadpoles develop limbs, their tails are reabsorbed, gills disappear, and lungs develop. This process transforms them into young frogs or toads, enabling them to live on land. The tadpole stage can last from a few weeks to several years, depending on the species and environmental conditions. Tadpole shrimp, though sharing the name, are crustaceans with a similar body shape but are not related to frog larvae.1456