It’s one thing to teach “metamorphosis” at the Exploreum, but it’s quite another to hold it in your hand! Metamorphosis is the process of changing from one form to another. Amphibians go through metamorphosis when they change from tadpoles to adult frogs. In our Frogs, Beyond Green! Exhibit, we are experiencing this amazing process by raising Vietnamese Mossy Tree Frogs!
They were brought to us as tadpoles, the larval stage of the frog’s life. As tadpoles, they live entirely under water and breathe through gills. They are solid black with a long tail that they use to propel them through the water in search for food…they eat A LOT!
They were brought to us as tadpoles, the larval stage of the frog’s life. As tadpoles, they live entirely under water and breathe through gills. They are solid black with a long tail that they use to propel them through the water in search for food…they eat A LOT!
In the last few weeks, some of our frogs sprouted limbs and began changing color! As their arms and legs grew larger blue stripes and tiny red dots appeared on their bodies. Once they enter this stage, they are considered “neonates.”
At this phase, they do not eat food. Instead, their tale slowly disappears as it is turned into energy for the body. The coolest part about the neonate phase is that they have developed lungs so we can pick them up! Of course, we have to be careful because they are already using their back legs to hop away!
Our Mossy Tree Frog Neonates will stay in this phase for about 3 months before they completely transform into adult frogs. In that time, we’ll keep a close eye (and hand) on their progress. This is definitely a lesson in metamorphosis that won’t be forgotten!
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