The sun has been shining on us in Lochwinnoch, and not a moment too soon as we prepared ourselves for our annual tadpole hunt (part of our fantastic frogs series). Swarms of people decended upon us at 11am to come and look for the wiggley wigglers (also know as tadpoles, and in some countries, polliwags!) and also to find out some facts about tadpoles, look for frog food and generally have lots fo fun!
A great day has been had by all, with everybody catching at least one tadpole, but mostly up to about 30!
Tadpole facts:
1. It takes 16 weeks for a tadpole to become a fully grown adult frog
2. In the first 4 weeks of its life, a tadpole eats its own egg yolk which is stored in its belly
3. Tadpoles have tiny teeth which they use to eat algae
4. Tadpole legs begin to pop out at 6 weeks old
5. At 12 weeks old, a tadpole is old enough to leave the water but it may still have some of its tail left.
6. Tadpoles breathe through gills
7. Tadpoles are also known as polliwags
8. Tadpoles love to eat lettuce
9. If temperatures drop, tadpoles can become suspended and not develop until the water warms up
10. A young frog is called a froglet
11. Water tigers often eat tadpoles
12. Tadpoles are young frongs, toads or newts
13. Tadpoles have a sucker which they attach themselves to plants with
14. Frog eggs are known as spawn
Paula