Urban Nature Pictures 2/28, Lost Pond Reservation

[urbpan]

I saw movement in the shore of the icy pond, and pulled out a tadpole.






This is our way into the reservation. The sign indicates that it's also the entrance to Brookline's "Household Hazardous Recycling Drop Off Center."

Comments

[deathling.livejournal.com]

I can't believe those guys are out already up there.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

They overwinter under the ice. I don't know why there were some (I found 3) by the thawed part at the shore.

[ndozo.livejournal.com]

Snow tadpoles? That's ok.

[aemiis-zoo.livejournal.com]

Is that a bullfrog tadpole?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

If it was, it was a young one (first year). I also found a much bigger one which was definitely a bullfrog--the one in this picture could have been a green frog or leopard frog I guess--maybe even a wood frog. I didn't examine it long enough or closely enough to tell. I was trying to remember what frogs I've heard there last summer, and all I remember are bullfrogs.

[m0053.livejournal.com]

How do you identify a tadpole? They all just look black to me 0.o

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

In good light you'd see distinguishing characteristics. The locations of the mouth and eyes ares important, and they can have distinctive patterns on the skin and tail.

http://www.trentu.ca/biology/berrill/IdentificationTable.htm

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bazilisk_/]

This post makes me happy. I hear rumors this thing called spring is coming soon. Also tadpoles are adorable, in their very wet and slippery way.

[wirrrn.livejournal.com]

If we see a large, jet-black tadpole over here, it's time to call the Toad-Busters...

http://www.stopthetoad.org.au/

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

No cane toads here! I doubt their tadpoles could survive a winter in a frozen pond.

[wirrrn.livejournal.com]

Clearly you underestimate the power of this invasive amphibian. It took them decades, but they crossed the Nullabor Plain. They laugh in the faces of our most potent Elapids!

I find it ironic that they're turning up scarce in their native Amazon. We'd be more than happy to ship several hundred thousand to Brazil!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

It's that way all over: rock pigeons on the decline in the Mediterranean, a house sparrow shortage in the UK, etc. I wish I could see 5, 10, 50 million years into the future to see how it all winds up!

[wirrrn.livejournal.com]

I wish I could see 5, 10, 50 million years into the future to see how it all winds up!

-Find a vampire. Or a Time-Lord *g*

[rudbekia.livejournal.com]

I would have never guessed that tadpoles would be out so early. I have a fondness for them from childhood.