Palmate newt tadpole. Light micrograph of the tadpole of the palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus), at a late metamorphosis stage. Newts are amphibian

---

Palmate newt tadpole. Light micrograph of the tadpole of the palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus), at a late metamorphosis stage. Newts are amphibians that, like frogs, go through an aquatic tadpole stage when developing into the adult form. The newt tadpole takes around eight weeks to undergo metamorphosis. It keeps its external gills for six weeks, after which they are absorbed. The lungs are fully formed, so the adult newt is able to leave the pond. These six gills are seen here either side of the head. Also visible are its two eyes (black), and developing limbs. Magnification: x2 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

---

Size: 5125px × 3417px
Photo credit: © DR KEITH WHEELER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1, amphibian, anatomical, anatomy, animal, aquatic, biological, biology, body, cycle, dark-field, darkfield, external, eye, eyes, fauna, freshwater, gill, gills, head, helveticus, herpetology, illumination, immature, larval, late, legs, life, light, lissotriton, lm, metamorphosis, micrograph, microscope, nature, newt, palmate, pond, single, stage, swim, swimming, tadpole, tail, triturus, underwater, water, wildlife, zoological, zoology