¿How long does it take for a tadpole to become a frog or toad?

Abstract

Have you ever wondered how long it takes for a tadpole to become a frog or toad? To begin with, tadpoles are the offspring produced when a male and female mate to produce offspring of both frogs and toads. Amphibians are prominently represented by frogs and toads, and they are so named because they spend part of their lives in water (tadpoles) and part of their lives on land. They undergo a phenomenon called "metamorphosis," the biological process of their development. The young and adults appear to be completely different animals due to the many drastic changes in their bodies as part of their life cycle. This process can last different times depending on the species of toad being studied.

It all begins when the tadpoles hatch from an egg, either from a frog or a toad, which can be in water or on the leaves of plants (Figure 1).

During tadpole growth, the process of metamorphosis takes place. The tadpole grows, followed by the formation of hind legs, followed by front legs, then the absorption of a tail, and finally the formation of a fully terrestrial frog or toad capable of hopping. After copulation in anuran amphibians, the female releases eggs, which go through different stages of development. When the eggs begin to develop into embryos, the organisms about to be born can often be easily observed. Once born, frog and toad embryos look completely different from adults, resembling a fish more closely than an adult frog or toad. After birth, tadpoles continue their growth process through the biological phenomenon of metamorphosis. They develop hind legs, then front legs, acquire a tail, and then prepare to emerge from the water as small frogs and toads onto land to continue their life cycle to adulthood. This entire process can take anywhere from a few days to months for species.

For example, the red-eyed green frog takes approximately 44 days, and for toads like the Mesoamerican cane frog, it can take as little as 27 days. However, factors such as temperature and food availability can shorten or lengthen metamorphosis times, resulting in small specimens measuring just a few centimeters, identical to adults, known as post-metamorphs.