Life Cycle Of A Frog
Young children love science, and one favorite science experiments among them is the study of the life cycle of a frog. From start to finish, the process takes approximately 11-12 weeks; making this an ideal school science project for young people.
Frog spawn is the first step in the life cycle of a frog. Frog spawn is a cluster of eggs laid by the female, fertilized by the male and can generally be found in wet areas. The frog spawn will contain thousands of single-celled eggs covered in a jelly-like substance that serves as protection for the eggs. This portion of the life cycle of a frog is slow, with many of the eggs never reaching maturity. This is because certain fish, ducks and insects find the eggs to be quite delectable and if found, serve as their next meal. The surviving egg cell will eventually begin to split until many cells have developed within the sac, leading to the next step in the life cycle of a frog.
An embryo forms from the mass of cells within the egg, and will be fed from the internal yolk of the egg. Organs begin to develop, as well as gills that will be necessary in the next stage of the life cycle of a frog. There is usually enough yolk within the egg to sustain the embryo for about three weeks.
At the end of three weeks, the embryo will work its way out of its egg and through the protective jelly armor. The life cycle of the frog becomes very exciting for children at this stage, as the embryo attaches itself to a water weed and then quickly transforms into a tadpole. Depending on the whether the frog will be small or large this stage of life could last from days to weeks. During that time, the tiny tadpole will grow, feeding on algae.
The life cycle of a frog is a mysterious process. Transforming from the water dependant tadpole into an air-breathing amphibian is an amazing feat. As it grows, it is undergoing a series of changes. Hind and front legs begin to form, lungs develop and the tail begins to shrink until it finally disappears altogether. Toward the end of this transformation period, the mouth becomes more pronounced and the lips of the tadpole are now gone. From time to time, the lungs are tested by the tadpole flitting to the water surface and taking breaths. It is just about time now for the final stage.
After about 12 weeks, the frog finally has acquired its new identity and emerges from the water to live mostly on land. The life cycle of a frog is now complete; or is it? The new frog soon begins to look for a mate, and once it does, the cycle will begin once again.