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Large tadpoles. This late in the year and showing no signs of legs, I assume they are introduced bullfrog tadpoles, although I saw no sign of bullfrogs. The other possibility would be the native redlegged frog (Rana aurora), but I would expect them all but grown by October
shallow freshwater pond near ocean
Taken from bridge above pond. The water was very clear and the light was just right
1 Comment
Many tadpoles will stay tadpoles for up to several years, so trying to base species off time of year does you no good.
If there is plenty of water and food and little predators, they have an advantage to stay a tadpole for longer to grow bigger in their larval stage so when they do metamorphose they are much larger and have less predators as opposed to a smaller froglet.