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Indirana semipalmata tadpole,on a plastic sheet used to cover a shed from, Hosamata, Puttur, Karnataka, India Tadpole from Coorg, India on tree bark. The ecology and biology of Indirana semipalmata has not been extensively studied. It is a terrestrial species generally found on vegetation beside the banks of streams and rivers (riparian habitats).
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.
Adults hunt in spring and summer, but only at night or during light rains. Spadefoot tadpoles are dimorphic. Within a cohort, some tadpoles have large mouthparts, while others have much smaller mouthparts. As well as consuming other types of food, large-mouthed individuals are cannibalistic, swallowing other tadpoles whole. [4] [10]
The tadpole reaches a maximum length of 18 to 19.4 mm (0.71 to 0.76 in). It is grayish olive or grape-green dorsally and purplish ventrally. The tail has 6 or 7 black saddle marks. [11] [12] The tadpole completes metamorphosis into a juvenile toadlet in 4 to 6 weeks, and it reaches adulthood and sexual maturity at 1.5 to 2.3 years of age. [5]
American spadefoot toads have a unique diet. The adults' and tadpoles' diets vary. The adults' diet consists of invertebrates. [9] They eat flies, crickets, caterpillars, moths, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, earthworms, and snails. [10] The tadpoles' diet is related to its surroundings and food supply.
The adults of this species is primarily fossorial for most of the year, but terrestrial during warm, wet periods. It only enters the water for breeding when nocturnal temperatures are at their yearly maximums and within 2–3 days of rain. [6] The tadpoles hatch from eggs after 2 days and metamorphose within 2 weeks.
As a generalized system, Gosner stages may not be adequate for describing development of some anuran tadpoles. [3] For example, in the torrent-dwelling tadpoles of Ansonia longidigita and Meristogenys orphnocnemis , the usual Gosner stages become inappropriate beyond the stage 41 because the tadpoles retain their oral disc longer than the ...
R. variabilis tadpoles are known to be omnivorous and cannibalistic. [10] In addition to eggs and conspecific tadpoles in the same phytotelma, R. variabilis tadpoles are also able to feed on organic detritus, small insect larvae, and other anuran eggs. [4] Adult R. variabilis generally prey on ants, fruit flies, termites, and small beetles. [11]