Global Tadpole Database
Global Tadpole Database
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Tadpoles are the larval stage of frogs and toads (anurans). In most species they are aquatic and free-living which is the initial reproductive mode. They have a considerably different morphology and life history compared to their adults to avoid intraspecific competition. For this reason extensive metamorphic transformation is required to generate the reproductive adult stage.
Knowledge of the larvae is substantial to understand evolution and ecology of anurans and is essential for their conservation. In natural history museums and other scientific collections, tadpoles are available but they are often neglected in scientific evaluation and analysis. They are the ‘hidden treasures’ of science.
This webpage makes available standardized high-resolution tadpole data from scientific collections and is aimed at promoting an international network for research on tadpoles. At the first step, it provides data from museums in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
