page_title: Metamorphosis
section_title: Amphibian metamorphosis
hierarchical_section_title: Metamorphosis / Amphibian metamorphosis
caption_attribution_description: Tadpole of the common frog Rana temporaria just before metamorphosis
context_page_description: Metamorphosis in biology means the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages. Good examples are insects and amphibians. Life for most insects begins as a larva or nymph then progresses to the pupa stage and ends as an adult.
context_section_description: In typical amphibian development, eggs are laid in water and larvae are adapted to an aquatic lifestyle. Frogs, toads, and newts all hatch from the egg as larvae with external gills. Afterwards, newt larvae start a predatory lifestyle, while tadpoles mostly scrape food off surfaces with their horny tooth ridges.
caption: Just before metamorphosis, only 24 hours are needed to reach the stage in the next picture
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