How does the frog & the fish reproduce?
FROG REPRODUCTION
FROM EGG TO TADPOLE
A female frog first lays eggs underwater, sometimes hundreds of eggs, which form into a jelly-like clump called frogspawn, which floats on the water. Most of these eggs become food for other pond life, but some survive.
The tiny animal inside the egg grows for about a month, then hatches out of the egg. It looks like a small black fish and breathes underwater with feathery gills on each side of its head. It's the tadpole.The tadpole’s tail begins to grow; it wiggles its tail to swim. FROM TADPOLE TO FROGLET
After several weeks, tadpoles begin their metamorphosis. Two tiny bumps appear near the tadpole’s tail—these will grow into back legs.
Two more bumps appear near the frog’s head—these will grow into front legs. Lungs begin to grow inside the tadpole’s body and the feathery gills disappear so that the tadpole will be able to breathe air.
The tadpole now has legs for hopping and walking, lungs for breathing air, but its long tail is awkward on land. Until the tail shrinks and is absorbed into its body, the froglet stays in or near the water.
FROGLET TO FROG
When the tail is gone, the frog has completed its metamorphosis. The young frog will now feed on small insects, caught with their long, sticky tongues. It will eventually move away from the pond and find a safe place to grow.
FISH REPRODUCTION
Fish life cycles vary among species. In general, however, fish progress through the following life cycle stages:
- Eggs: Fertilized eggs develop into fish. Most eggs do not survive to maturity even under the best conditions. Threats to eggs include changes in water temperature and oxygen levels, flooding or sedimentation, predators and disease.
- Larval: Larval fish live off a yolk sac attached to their bodies. When the yolk sac is fully absorbed, the young fish are called fry.
- Fry: Fry are ready to start eating on their own. Fry undergo several more developmental stages, which vary by species, as they mature into adults. Young fish are generally considered fry during their first few months (during their first few months to just less than one year in some species).
- Juvenile: The time fish spend developing from fry into reproductively mature adults varies among species. Most fish do not survive to become adults. Threats to survival include fluctuations in water temperature, changes in oxygen levels, competition for habitat and predators.
- Adult: When fish are able to reproduce, they are considered adults. The time it takes to reach maturity varies among species and individual fish. Fish with shorter life spans reach maturity faster.
FROM EGG TO TADPOLE
A female frog first lays eggs underwater, sometimes hundreds of eggs, which form into a jelly-like clump called frogspawn, which floats on the water. Most of these eggs become food for other pond life, but some survive.
The tiny animal inside the egg grows for about a month, then hatches out of the egg. It looks like a small black fish and breathes underwater with feathery gills on each side of its head. It's the tadpole.The tadpole’s tail begins to grow; it wiggles its tail to swim.
FROM TADPOLE TO FROGLET
After several weeks, tadpoles begin their metamorphosis. Two tiny bumps appear near the tadpole’s tail—these will grow into back legs.
Two more bumps appear near the frog’s head—these will grow into front legs. Lungs begin to grow inside the tadpole’s body and the feathery gills disappear so that the tadpole will be able to breathe air.
The tadpole now has legs for hopping and walking, lungs for breathing air, but its long tail is awkward on land. Until the tail shrinks and is absorbed into its body, the froglet stays in or near the water.
FROGLET TO FROG
When the tail is gone, the frog has completed its metamorphosis. The young frog will now feed on small insects, caught with their long, sticky tongues. It will eventually move away from the pond and find a safe place to grow.
FISH REPRODUCTION
Fish life cycles vary among species. In general, however, fish progress through the following life cycle stages:
- Eggs: Fertilized eggs develop into fish. Most eggs do not survive to maturity even under the best conditions. Threats to eggs include changes in water temperature and oxygen levels, flooding or sedimentation, predators and disease.
- Larval: Larval fish live off a yolk sac attached to their bodies. When the yolk sac is fully absorbed, the young fish are called fry.
- Fry: Fry are ready to start eating on their own. Fry undergo several more developmental stages, which vary by species, as they mature into adults. Young fish are generally considered fry during their first few months (during their first few months to just less than one year in some species).
- Juvenile: The time fish spend developing from fry into reproductively mature adults varies among species. Most fish do not survive to become adults. Threats to survival include fluctuations in water temperature, changes in oxygen levels, competition for habitat and predators.
- Adult: When fish are able to reproduce, they are considered adults. The time it takes to reach maturity varies among species and individual fish. Fish with shorter life spans reach maturity faster.
