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A Guide to the Amphibians
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Eggs, Tadpoles and Development  of
American Bullfrog - Lithobates catesbeianus

Shaw, 1802

(= Rana catesbeiana)



observation link

 

Eggs
American Bullfrog Tadpole American Bullfrog Tadpole American Bullfrog Tadpole  
A small group of eggs in water in a dish
© Aureliano Gaglione

Egg mass found in late July in Marin County
© Aureliano Gaglione
 
American Bullfrog Tadpoles
American Bullfrog Tadpole American Bullfrog Tadpole American Bullfrog Tadpole American Bullfrog Tadpole
Mature tadpole in water, San Bernardino County Mature tadpole, San Bernardino County Mature tadpole, Yolo County Tadpole out of water, Del Norte County
© Alan Barron
American Bullfrog Tadpole American Bullfrog Tadpoles American Bullfrog Tadpole American Bullfrog Tadpoles
Mature tadpole, Orange County © Jeff Ahrens Group of tadpoles,
San Bernardino County

This unusually-pigmented bullfrog tadpole was found in Sacramento County © Grayson B. Sandy Tadpole, San Luis Obispo County
© Matt Willis
American Bullfrog Tadpoles American Bullfrog Tadpoles American Bullfrog Tadpole  
Mature tadpole, San Luis Obispo
County © Matt Willis
Mature tadpole, San Luis Obispo
County © Matt Willis
Mature 4-legged tadpole, still living in water, but put on land for this photo.  
       
A Mature Tadpole Transforms Into A Frog
American Bullfrog Tadpole American Bullfrog Tadpole American Bullfrog Tadpole
Mature tadpole, Merced County
American Bullfrog Tadpole American Bullfrog Tadpole
This is the same tadpole shown in the row above 3 weeks later, one day before it left the water and transformed into a frog (shown in the series below.)
 

The following series of pictures shows the American Bullfrog tadpole shown in the two rows above, in full metamorphosis -
it leaves the water to breathe air and live on land, gradually losing its tail and transforming into a juvenile frog with the body of an adult.


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American Bullfrog Juvenile American Bullfrog Juvenile American Bullfrog Juvenile American Bullfrog Juvenile
Day 1 of living on land
Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
American Bullfrog Juvenile American Bullfrog Juvenile American Bullfrog Juvenile American Bullfrog Juvenile
Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8
American Bullfrog Juvenile American Bullfrog Juvenile American Bullfrog Juvenile American Bullfrog Juvenile
Day 9 - Tail is completely absorbed
Day 14 Day 29 Day 29
 
Short Videos
American Bullfrog Tadpoles American Bullfrog Tadpoles American Bullfrog  
Although they are quick to swim to the bottom when first approached, American Bullfrog tadpoles will usually calm down and resuface, where they slowly swim, float, and socialize. Mature 4-legged tadpoles at a small pond in Oregon. Short Video
Mature American Bullfrog tadpoles eating dead carp in a pond in Washington County, Oregon.
© Chris Rombough
 

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