Tadpoles Change Their Color to Blend into Environment, Finds Study

Amphibians have developed a host of amazing adaptive strategies. A new study has found yet another amazing way these creatures navigate the world around them, even from their earliest stages. Favorite prey of birds, fish, and other animals, some tadpoles have developed an amazing survival strategy. A new study found that tadpoles can change their color to mimic their environment. This makes them more difficult for predators to spot. 

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A study published in Scientific Reports found that Western Spadefoot toad tadpoles can mimic the shade of a variety of backgrounds. Researchers carefully cultivated five different environments for the tadpoles. The tadpoles were then raised in these environments. Findings showed that the tadpoles developed lighter or darker pigmentation based on their surroundings. The resulting coloration varies on a scale between black, white, and gray. 

The ability to camouflage themselves by blending into their backgrounds is a clever adaptive strategy for Western Spadefoot toad tadpoles. These juvenile amphibians have long larval periods which they spend in the water. There, they are vulnerable to predation. Western Spadefoot toads spend up to six months as tadpoles before transitioning to land in their final forms. Being able to blend into their background may give the tadpoles a survival advantage. 

However, research revealed that although the tadpoles could quickly adjust their color to match changes in brightness, they did not alter their hue. Additionally, the scientists found that the tadpoles change color from light to dark more quickly. They were also better able to match darker backgrounds. Although the tadpoles were able to transition from darker to lighter colors, the process took longer and resulted in less exact color matching. 

The darker tadpoles were also noted to have different body structures than their lighter counterparts. The tails of darker tadpoles showed different positions when they were compared. This may be due to increased stress hormones among the lighter tadpoles. Since darker environments are easier for the tadpoles to blend into, scientists theorize that lighter colors may cause stress-induced changes. However, further investigation into this link is needed before a definitive answer can be given. 

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