There are few joys in the pond like that of the moment you realize that your tadpole is officially a frog. Well, a froglet actually.What's the difference? A froglet still has his tail, leftover from his tadpole days. This is a week-long stage when the new air-breathing, I-can-climb-out-of-the-water pally isn't quite a frog just yet. You see, he doesn't eat at this point--the absorption of that tail provides enough nutrients that he doesn't need to figure out how to catch dinner while he is finishing his transformation. I guess nature realizes how busy he is these days.
His little body also still looks like that of a tadpole, as the eyeballs are slowly moving up to the top of his new little frog head. Yes, he can climb out of the water to sit on a lily pad, but it will be a week or so before homeboy gets the strength and the gumption to actually hop out of the water completely to try his land legs--which is the opposite of his sea legs.
The process of going from tadpole to frog is something that always fascinates me, hence, the purchase of 2 or 3 tadpoles each spring. I love to watch those tadpoles swim around with some nubby legs that quickly blossom into big honkin' frog legs in a matter of weeks.
The arms are the last things to appear on a tadpole, appearing long after the eyeballs have started shifting from the sides to the top of their heads. Their little bodies slowly, slowly start taking on the shape of a frog and soon you know homeboy is gonna pop out some arms.
Sprouting arms is apparently a secretive process, as it is something that seems to happen overnight. One day you've got an armless swimmer and the next...poof!...there are some arms motoring your pally around the water. The ability to do that is not lost on me--I find that fascinating.
There was a Valentine's Day a few years ago that Joe brought me home some flowers. On that same day, the tadpole sprouted some arms. You tell me which gift was more awesome--I'm going with the arms. Nothing says love like sprouting arms--there's just so much....uh.....effort.
It's gotta be exhausting growing arms.
18 comments:
You changed the cast of character pictures! Cool.
And no! A weed in the garden does not help.
Didn't you promise to post some new hip-wader pics soon? Hey, my wife has me on a very short leash, and I don't have that much to look forward to. Besides, it's been soon for a while now!
Growing arms . . . Reminds me of a line from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Trillian asks Zaphod about his third arm. He replies, "I grew that one just for you baby."
On second thought, you've got something a bit different (and natural) going on their in your pond.
Nice pix.
You seem to be so up in arms about the whole thing.
I haven't tried to grow arms in many, many years but thinking about it is exhausting.
You've certainly taught us a lot about 'how to grow a frog'! :) There is so much to learn in blogland!
Have a Happy Weekend Lin!
xo Catherine
Sounds like an interesting process. I seem to vaguely remember having a tank of frogs in my second grade class and watching the process. But that was a loooooooooooooong time ago.
What a cute froglet he or she is. At least he isn't guilty of eating your new fish. Has it been found yet?
I love this post - I am very fond of frogs - I would like to follow the transformation - has to be fascinating and joyful...(BTW - pictures of the wall of daisies was posted Thursday)
I keep getting tadpoles but not anyfroglets. I think the Koi are eating them.
And I didn't know you could buy tadpoles. But I am not buying my Koi take-out.
Helene--I'm sending Joe out to take care of it right away. :)
Fish--I don't have any new wader photos, pally. You'd have to settle for old re-runs if I'm gonna run them at all. Life is busy--I'm not getting to a lot of things. Sigh.
Chuck--I really tried to get through that book, but I never connected. Gees, if I had known about folks growing arms.....
Vanilla--Hahaha! ;)
Casey--And think about moving your eyeballs to the top of your head! Sheesh. They've got lots going on there.
Catherine--I love my frogs so I have to share. It is very exciting to see them transform right before your eyes. That's big entertainment around these parts.
DG--Oh, cool! I wonder if they still do that kind of stuff in schools? I used to do it at home for my kids, now I just do it for me. :)
Chocolate--Nope! No sign of that fish! I did get another one yesterday--we'll see how long this one lasts!
Grace--I'm big into that kind of stuff--I'm surprised I am not a biology teacher. I raise monarch butterflies too. Maybe I'll do that this summer and take photos of that process as well. (LOVE the wall!)
Highway--Those koi will eat everything, including their own babies! That is why I don't have koi in my pond. Anything that eats spit isn't welcome here.
Fascinating. I love reading about your pond.
One thing I've always wondered and never have had answered: Do tadpoles taste different than frogs? And what about the in-between stage, how do they taste then?
I'm thinking that I want one of those tails that make it unnecessary to eat. I could stand to lose a few pounds and that would really come in handy
I always like hearing about your pond! Since I can't have one, it's fun enjoying yours!
Pricilla--I think it is fun to hear about animals that we don't necessarily come in contact with. I for one love for you to explain things about the goats.
Sparkle--I don't know about the taste, but I can tell you they feel different. Tadpoles are soft to the touch--almost like velvet. Frogs...well, not so soft. They are just sort of bony and slick. I will tell you that there is NO WAY that you would catch a tadpole to eat them--they are super FAST! They have so many fish, frogs, and others that want to eat them and they know it! My kitties have never eaten a frog, but I have had raccoons eat them. :( I do not like to find their shiny eyeballs on the pavement.
Ann--I'm with you! And think how that tail would elongate you!! It is very slimming that tail.
Beaded Tail--I hope it isn't boring everyone. I just thought people might like to know the wacky things I have learned about frogs. Then you can drop this info on folks at parties and at the office and such. They will be all impressed.
Watching the frog sprout limbs must be fun. Having arms is always an important thing.
Isn't nature and life amazing!?!
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