The Incredible Frog Life Cycle [Full Metamorphosis]

Frog Life Cycle

Frogs generally pass through four stages: egg, tadpole, froglet, and adult.

Egg

During reproduction, males fertilize the eggs. A female may lay roughly 10,000–20,000 eggs, depending on the species and climate. The eggs absorb water and develop a jelly-like coating that helps them cluster, enlarges them, and offers some protection from predators and bacteria.

Frog eggs usually form clusters, while toad eggs are generally laid in strings. Eggs may hatch into tadpoles in 3–25 days.

Tadpole

This aquatic larval stage begins with tadpoles often attached to vegetation. They breathe through their skin and initially use the remaining yolk from the egg for nourishment. As they grow, they develop oval bodies, long tails, and small mouths, and feed on algae.

Later, their hind and front legs grow, lungs develop, and their tails begin to shrink.

Froglet

After the final stage of metamorphosis, the young frog has legs and lungs and can live on land, though it still has a tail. The tail eventually disappears. A froglet may take about four years to become reproductively mature.

Adult

Adult frogs have no tail and eat insects and other invertebrates. Some species may also eat small rodents, birds, or bats. Adults have more developed defenses than eggs or tadpoles.

Frogs can live up to 40 years in captivity, but generally live for less time in nature, where predators are abundant.

Variation in Egg Care

Many frogs lay large numbers of eggs, relying on the high egg count to help ensure that some survive. Some species use different strategies: certain dart frogs lay eggs in separate puddles and feed their tadpoles, while some frogs carry tadpoles on their backs.

Researchers and Sources Featured

• Researchers: None named.
• Source: Toads N Frogs video, The Incredible Frog Life Cycle [Full Metamorphosis].