Kids Science

The life cycle of a frog

A tadpole changes into a frog

Metamorphosis is the change of shape during an animal’s life. During metamorphosis, the tadpole develops its back legs first and then front legs. After six weeks, the mouth starts to widen and in 10 weeks, the eyes of the froglet - as it is now called - starts to bulge out and the tail begins to shrink and eventually disappear. When the lungs develop, the froglet makes its way to land and ta-da! It’s a frog!A tadpole changes into a frog

Metamorphosis is the change of shape during an animal’s life. During metamorphosis, the tadpole develops its back legs first and then front legs. After six weeks, the mouth starts to widen and in 10 weeks, the eyes of the froglet - as it is now called - starts to bulge out and the tail begins to shrink and eventually disappear. When the lungs develop, the froglet makes its way to land and ta-da! It’s a frog!

Stage 1: The eggs

Frogs lay eggs in water in a cluster. These clusters of floating eggs are called “egg masses.” Frogs lay up to 4,000 eggs at one time!

Stage 2: The tadpoles

Tadpoles hatch from the eggs and live in the pond.

Stage 3: The froglets

The tadpoles turn into froglets. The body shrinks and the legs form.

Stage 4: The frog

The froglet's tail shrinks, the lungs develop, the back legs grow and then we have a frog!

Note: Amphibians shed their skin as they grow. Usually the shed skin is eaten. Yum!

Fact: Amphibians are cold-blooded vertebrates (vertebrates have backbones) that don’t have scales. They live part of their lives in water and part on land.

(Kidzone)