A tadpole develops into an adult frog by the process of:
(A) Fertilisation (B) Metamorphosis (C) Embedding (D) Budding
The correct answer is (B) Metamorphosis.
Explanation 🦋
During metamorphosis, the aquatic tadpole undergoes a series of dramatic changes to become a semi-terrestrial adult frog:
- Legs develop while the tail is gradually absorbed.
- The internal gills used for breathing in water are replaced by lungs for breathing air.
- The digestive system changes from one suited for a herbivorous diet to one that can handle a carnivorous diet.
Analysis of Other Options
- (A) Fertilisation: This is the fusion of an egg and sperm to form a zygote. It’s the very first step in creating a new organism, long before a tadpole exists.
- (C) Embedding: In biology, this term typically refers to the implantation of an embryo into the wall of the uterus in mammals. It is not part of the amphibian life cycle.
- (D) Budding: This is a type of asexual reproduction where a new organism grows as an outgrowth (a “bud”) from the parent. This is common in organisms like yeast and hydra, not frogs.