Big tadpoles
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Topic: Big tadpoles
Posted By: Camerart
Subject: Big tadpoles
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 11:13am
Hi,
Many years ago, when on a footpath gang, we came across a large pond in a country estate. I could see it was full of rubbish, also there were tadpoles coming up for air, but these were very large. I would say about 10mm bodies.
I got permission from the estate to clear out the pond, so we fixed up a boat, and dredged it. The estate provided two large trailers which we filled, with bags and metal, and took it to the scrap yard where we earned a few bob for our troubles.
What puzzled me was the size of the tadpoles! Was it because of fertilizer bags or just a large type of amphibian? Anyone the answer please?
Camerart.
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Replies:
Posted By: will
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 9:03am
Large common frog tadpoles can have bodies up to 15mm, so I think 10mm is within range, especially in rather shaded woodland ponds where they may go on growing for longer and metamorphose later in summer than those in open, shallow ponds. Of course there's no reason why it couldn't have been some kind of exotic species, marsh frog, midwife toad etc depending on the part of the country concerned, but adopting the principle of Occam's razor - ie go for the simplest explanation where possible - I'd go for well developed common frog, Rana temporaria.
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Posted By: Camerart
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 9:18am
Hi W,
I've never seen such large ones. I'll have to check what develops, but I don't live near there any more.
This pond is not far from where midwife toads were introduced, but I thought they were small?
Thanks, C.
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Posted By: will
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 11:06pm
Hi C - adults are small, but their taddies can be big, so newly metamorphosed toadlets can measure 25mm!
Cheers, W
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Posted By: Camerart
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 9:25am
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