Tadpole query

[ashgale]

while out in a local woodland this morning, we came across a small pond, in which there were hundreds of tadpoles, most of them at the stage where they had grown the back legs, but quite a lot of them had no legs visible yet, there were a few tiny (about 5/6 mm long) froglets(or toadlets ?) on the waters edge too,







is this unusually late for tadpoles to be at this stage, as the ones that were in the pond in our garden have been long gone ?

ashgale.

[Deb London]

I believe delayed development is a response to food shortage, and possibly other environmental factors. I think these will overwinter as taddies and emerge in the spring. I'm sure someone will be along soon to answer your query more fully.

[ashgale]

Originally Posted by Deb London

I believe delayed development is a response to food shortage, and possibly other environmental factors. I think these will overwinter as taddies and emerge in the spring. I'm sure someone will be along soon to answer your query more fully.

Hi Debs,
thanks for the reply, that was something i had not considered as a reason for the lateness,
but i would not have thought that shortage of food would have been a problem, as the pond has a good selection of plantlife and there seems to be lots of insects etc in the pond as well, when i described the pond as being small, it measures around 30/40ft long and about 20ft wide , with no fish in evidence, so should be able to support a good head of tadpoles

i did not realise that the tadpoles could overwinter in the pond and complete their lifecycle the following spring,

ashgale,

[Littlesparrow]

I asked about my own large slow developing tads in a thread a while back and got the helpful response not to worry. They also said about some over winter and turning into frogs next year.
In my pond I still have a few of these slow chaps and no lack of food in my pond, but most are now bouncing around my garden, causing havoc when i try to mow my lawn.
I suppose the only worry is if the pond or pool was too small to stay unfrozen (solid not just the Top )over the Winter?

[ashgale]

Originally Posted by Littlesparrow

I asked about my own large slow developing tads in a thread a while back and got the helpful response not to worry. They also said about some over winter and turning into frogs next year.
In my pond I still have a few of these slow chaps and no lack of food in my pond, but most are now bouncing around my garden, causing havoc when i try to mow my lawn.
I suppose the only worry is if the pond or pool was too small to stay unfrozen (solid not just the Top )over the Winter?

i think the pond is fairly deep, so unless we have a really severe winter some of them should make it through to spring,

it just seemed so unusual to see tadpoles in mid September ,


thanks,

ashgale.

[Tringa]

I have heard (but cannot find anyhting on the web) that adult frogs give off a hormone that can slow the development of tadpoles. Perhaps in a small pond this could have an effect, but the size you mention this does not seem likely.

Could also be that nature isn't perfect.

Dave

[Malcolm Banks]

Development of the tadpole is definately under homonal control, and although I have never heard the adult frog hormone hypothesis, I reckon you have the most of it. Neotony is common in frogs, and the proportion in a population at pond level pond may vary according to many factors, not all of which are known. Some evidence/speculation points to spreading the feeding window for a population by neotony, but there are other views.
Wish my pond was that big
M

[Kayleigh]

They look like toads to me and toads are later than frogs to breed, but not this late..
Also toads breed in larger ponds than frogs.

[ashgale]

i did wonder if they may have been toads, as they are much darker in colour than the froglets we get in our garden pond,

for any one interested, there is a pic of the pond in question on this link Whitwell Wood

it is a very varied woodland, with clay soil over magnesium limestone, there are several larger ponds and a small strem in the woods as well,
lots of wildlife, and on the day we spotted the tadpoles, dozens of dragon flies from small red one to large blue and green ones,

thanks for all the very interesting replies,
thanks to W.A.B my knowledge of wildlife increases daily

ashgale.

[Paul Iddon]

I have a pond that is barely 3 feet by 2 feet in size, and there are a few tadpoles still in there too.

I was surprised to see them this late in September, but if they do this sort of thing naturally, then maybe they'll survive in my little bit of water. Earlier in the week, a very large frog jumped into the water from under the apple tree.


Paul.