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 …

Tadpole, aquatic larval stage of frogs and toads. Compared with the larvae of salamanders, tadpoles have short oval bodies with broad tails, small mouths, and no external gills.

The meaning of TADPOLE is a larval amphibian; specifically : a frog or toad larva that has a rounded body with a long tail bordered by fins and external gills soon replaced by internal gills and that …

A tadpole is the larval stage of amphibians, particularly frogs and toads, characterized by a soft, aquatic body, a tail for swimming, and gills for breathing underwater.

Aug 2, 2025 · A tadpole is the aquatic larval stage in the life cycle of amphibians, specifically frogs and toads. This transitional form bridges the gap between an egg and a terrestrial adult amphibian.

Feb 20, 2023 · While Tadpoles are in the larval stage, they undergo a metamorphosis to change into frogs. This usually takes between 6 and 16 weeks but can take longer, depending on the species …

May 19, 2012 · Tadpoles are the larval stages of frogs and toads. Amphibians differ from most other vertebrates (higher organisms with a backbone) in that their eggs develop into a larval stage, known …

Eggs hatch quickly, entering the aquatic larval or second stage, better known as the tadpole or pollywog. Tadpoles are typically herbivorous, scraping algae and other organisms off submerged surfaces.

Learn what a tadpole is and explore the tadpole life cycle, discovering how long it takes a tadpole to develop into an adult frog.

Most frogs and other amphibians hatch as fish-like larvae called tadpoles, or "pollywogs." Tadpoles exist to eat and grow. They eventually transform into froglets, a process called metamorphosis. These soft …