Tadpoles

Japanese: オタマジャクシ

Frog larvae. The head and body are rounded and lack limbs, but the tail is laterally compressed and developed. They have physiological functions similar to those of fish and are suited to life underwater, always breathing through their gills. When they reach maturity, they undergo metamorphosis, first producing the hind limbs, then the forelimbs, and the tail is gradually absorbed into the body and disappears. Usually, larvae metamorphose in 2-3 months, but some species, such as the bullfrog, overwinter as larvae. The term can also refer to the larvae of amphibians other than frogs, but in this case, the distinctive feature is that they do not lose their tails even after metamorphosis.
→ Related item Larvae

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

カエルの幼生。頭胴部は丸みを帯び，四肢を欠くが，尾は側扁して発達する。魚類によく似た生理的機能をもって水中生活に適し，常に鰓(えら)で呼吸。成熟すると，変態してまず後肢が，次に前肢が生じ，尾は次第に体内に吸収されて消失。ふつう幼生は２〜３ヵ月で変態するが，ウシガエルなどは幼生のまま越冬。カエル以外の両生類の幼生のこともいうが，この場合変態しても尾を失わないことが特徴。
→関連項目幼生

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