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overwintering frog tadpoles

Printed From: Reptiles and Amphibians of the UK
Category: Herpetofauna Native to the UK
Forum Name: Common Frog
Forum Description: Forum for all issues concerning Rana temporaria
URL: http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5036
Printed Date: 28 Mar 2024 at 4:05pm
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Topic: overwintering frog tadpoles
Posted By: will
Subject: overwintering frog tadpoles
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 2:25pm
When I was a kid you read that any late developing anuran tadpoles wouldn't survive the winter, unlike newt larvae.  Recently I think people have found more and more late taddies that are making it to the following spring; a pond near to me has dozens that have made it, mostly at the hind limb stage, like this one from today:





Replies:
Posted By: Liz Heard
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 7:15pm
Hi Will,

I've had overwintering tads in my ponds several times but, have noticed that development was very slow and significant numbers had deformities to their legs come spring and didn't make it. Although 'new' tadpoles in the same pond were normal.


Ben


Posted By: Caleb
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 2:17pm
Would be interesting to see if they are able to metamorphose fully. 

It is possible for anuran tadpoles to be neotenous- this apparently results in overgrown tadpoles (usually at the early hind-limb stage) which may become sexually mature.





Posted By: will
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 3:58pm
thanks Ben and Caleb - I'll keep an eye on these, they look pretty healthy at the moment. Bizarre to think of a sexually mature anuran tadpole - can't quite get my head around that!



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