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All about Spring

Tadpoles Develop Internal Gills

Tadpoles Develop Internal Gills

© 2002 David Jones (www.mybitoftheplanet.com)

A week later and the feathery-like gills have now disappeared from view. A skin grew over them and they are now inside the tadpole's body. The tadpole continues to breathe through these.

In the small picture you can see the skin on the tadpole has almost covered the gills. At this stage the tadpoles are around 18mm long.

The newt is just one of the creatures that is preying on the tadpoles. It is also walking on them.

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