Tadpoles – Tendrils

One of my dear little friends sitting by the pond. Sitting perfectly still hoping that I continue on my way. Hoping that I don’t give away its position at the edge of the water. Silently telling me to go away. Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans). Living in the pond along with many other creatures. I haven’t checked lately to see what the status is, but there had been green frog eggs, wood frog eggs and the eggs of eastern red-spotted newts. I know that some have turned into tadpoles. Even the red-spotted newts will turn into tadpoles continuing as water dwellers before developing to their next life stage as a terrestrial (juvenile) eft, and then back to the pond growing into an aquatic adult. The pond also has a few aquatic adult red-spotted newts. That’s all that I know about right now. Quite a busy place for such a little pond. Insects — look out!

I’m on the watch for the Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) to arrive at my little manmade pond. During the cold of winter Wood Frogs hibernate in the soil under leaf litter where their bodies go through freeze and thaw cycles depending on weather conditions.

In mid February they awaken from their hibernation and search for vernal pools for breeding, often returning to the same pool year to year. They sometimes begin their breeding even before ice is totally gone from the pond.

While actively hunting for mates they’re quite the noise makers, sounding a “clack, clack, clack” particularly during and after rain.

Their egg masses are impressive to see, and can contain one thousand to three thousand eggs. The eggs hatch in nine and thirty days, depending on the temperature of the water.

The tadpoles undergo metamorphosis at about two months and crawl out of the vernal pool as tiny frogs. At this point, I’ve got to watch that I don’t step on any of the cute little things.

A fully grown Wood Frog varies in size from one and a half to three inches, and they generally live no longer than three years.

I’m looking forward to hearing that, “clack, clack, clack” sound!