Life Cycle of a Frog

Have you ever wondered how a frog is formed? It is an interesting process. In early spring, adult frogs make their way to the breeding pools. Once they arrive, the male frogs croak very loudly. They are trying to attract the females so they can breed. The female releases her eggs into the water so the male can fertilize them. Once fertilized, these groups of eggs are called frogspawn. It is a jelly-like substance that absorbs water. It floats up to the surface of the pond so that the sun can warm it. One clump of frogspawn can hold thousands of eggs inside.

After 10 days, tadpoles will wiggle free from the eggs and begin swimming around. A tadpole is more like a fish than a frog at this point. It uses its tail and gills to breathe and swim. It takes five weeks for the tadpole to develop lungs and breathe air. Once the lungs are developed, the tadpole needs to go to the surface of the water for air. By seven weeks, miniature teeth are formed so that the tadpole can eat other insects and sometimes other tadpoles.

By eight weeks, the tadpole begins to grow back legs. It takes 10 or more weeks for the front legs to grow. At around 14 weeks, the tadpole begins to lose its tail and look like a real frog. In three years, the frog will have reached maturity and the whole cycle begins again.