Metamorphosis - Frog

All photos and text copyright 2007

Kris Light

http://EastTennesseeWildflowers.com

K. Light

Amphibians – Frogs, Toads, and

Salamanders

Amphibians are vertebrate animals

that live part of their lives on land

and part in water. They lay their

eggs in and live in water as tadpoles

or larvae. When they become adults

they can live on land, though some

adult frogs and salamanders live in

water.

K. Light K. Light

K. Light

Toad Tree Frog

Salamander

Some amphibians are poisonous!

� Toads have bumps on their skin that contain poison. If a predator bites a toad the poison will ooze through the skin (like the toad in the photo).

� Some salamanders go through a juvenile stage in their life called a “red eft.” The orange color signifies their poisonous skin to predators.

K. Light

K. Light

Amphibians go through

metamorphosis too!� This male Gray

Tree Frog is looking for a girlfriend! He is chirping a call. His throat pouch puffs out when he calls.

� After mating, the female frog will lay her eggs in the water of a pond, large puddle, lake, or even an untreated swimming pool.

K. Light

Frogs lay their eggs in water

� The female frog lays her eggs in

water. The tiny

black dots in these eggs are the

developing tadpoles.

K. Light

Tadpoles hatch from the eggs

� Tadpoles are aquatic (live in water) and

mostly herbivorous

(plant eaters), they have gills to breathe

underwater like a fish.

K. Light

The tadpole grows back legs

� As the tadpole gets bigger, it grows back

legs. A few weeks

later it will grow the front legs and begin

to look more like a frog.

K. Light

It is almost a frog!

� This young froglet still has most of its tail (which is under the yellow leaf). The tail will be absorbed and disappear as the frog becomes an adult. The froglet now eats insects and must breathe air like the adults.

K. Light

The Adult Frog

� This adult bullfrog is waiting patiently

for an insect to fly

by.

K. Light

Follow-up Questions

� 1. What does “amphibian” mean?

� 2. Name the three types of amphibians.

� 3. What do tadpoles eat?

� 4. Which legs grow first on a tadpole, the

back or front?

� 5. Why are “newts” reddish-orange in color?

End of Presentation

http://EastTennesseeWildflowers.com

Kris Light (klight10@comcast.net)

� Photos for Purchase

� You can help support this site by purchasing my prints! For unique gifts or

decorations for your home, office or cabin, check out the photos at:

www.printroom.com/pro/klight

� Printroom will print and ship the orders to the customer.