IGCSE Biology 4th edition

Biology books by
D G Mackean

Tadpoles

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Tadpoles
The tadpole at first breathes through its external gills. After about 6 days a fold of skin (the operculum) grows over the gills and the internal gills take over. A small cleft (spiracle) in the operculum provides the exit for the breathing current. The early tadpole adheres to pondweed with its mucous glands and rasps off the surface algae with its jaws. The long intestine is an adaptation to this herbivorous diet. Later the diet becomes carnivorous; the tadpole scavenges dead remains in the pond. They can be fed in aquaria with pieces of cooked meat (but tie the meat to a thread and remove it before its gets rotten).

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