Life cycles: Frogs

Most (not all) kinds of frogs mate as they float in shallow water. Sperm from the male frog's body mixes with eggs which the female lays in the water. The sperm will make the eggs fertile, which means they will grow and hatch into tadpoles.

The eggs are coated with jelly and float on the water.

The eggs are called frogspawn.

A few days after mating, tadpoles hatch from the eggs. The tadpoles eat plants that grow in the water. They breathe oxygen from the water through gills.

Later the tadpoles grow back legs.

After the tadpoles grow front legs, their tails shrink and the gills disappear. They now breathe oxygen through lungs.

Young frogs are called froglets. They can leave the water and live on land. Frogs eat snails, slugs, flies and other insects.

Frogs can breed when they are about three years old, and can live for up to 10 years.

Make a frog life cycle wheel Go here for a kidcyber activity page

Remember: Always acknowledge where you find information
If you use any of the information on this page acknowledge this source in your bibliography like this:
Life cycles: Frogs (2003). [Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au

Back to Animals

updated March 2008