Always An Exception
Just when I think I have it figured out, along comes an exception. Recently I learned that larger tadpoles with a tail that is black tipped are blanchard's cricket frogs. Then I process more shots & find this one. Checked with an expert & it is also a blanchard's. So dug a bit deeper and found this: "Tail color varies depending on habitat. In temporary ponds with insect predators, especially dragonfly larvae, the end of the tail is black. The black spot deflects the attack of the dragonfly to the tail, avoiding damage to the tadpole’s body. In lakes or large ponds with fish, tails of the tadpoles do not have a black spot. Fish engulf their prey whole, so tadpoles avoid fish predation by being cryptic." (www.wildlifedepartment.com/wildlife/nongamespecies/amphib...)
Blanchard's Cricket Frog Tadpole (Acris blanchardi)
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Always An Exception
Just when I think I have it figured out, along comes an exception. Recently I learned that larger tadpoles with a tail that is black tipped are blanchard's cricket frogs. Then I process more shots & find this one. Checked with an expert & it is also a blanchard's. So dug a bit deeper and found this: "Tail color varies depending on habitat. In temporary ponds with insect predators, especially dragonfly larvae, the end of the tail is black. The black spot deflects the attack of the dragonfly to the tail, avoiding damage to the tadpole’s body. In lakes or large ponds with fish, tails of the tadpoles do not have a black spot. Fish engulf their prey whole, so tadpoles avoid fish predation by being cryptic." (www.wildlifedepartment.com/wildlife/nongamespecies/amphib...)
Blanchard's Cricket Frog Tadpole (Acris blanchardi)
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com