You have learnt that a tail is present in a tadpole but it disappears as it grows into a frog. What is the advantage of having a tail in the tadpole stage?
The tail in a tadpole stage provides a significant advantage for survival.
Tadpoles live in water and the tail helps them swim efficiently in their aquatic habitat. The tail enables tadpoles to move through water to find food, escape from predators, and navigate their environment.
As tadpoles grow into froglets and then adult frogs, they develop strong legs for jumping and begin to spend time on land.
At this stage, the tail is no longer needed for swimming as the frog can use its legs for movement both in water and on land. The tail gradually disappears as the frog adapts to its dual habitat of water and land.
Explanation
The chapter describes the life cycle of a frog on Pages 17-19. Tadpoles develop legs but still have tails, and tails help them swim in water. Tadpoles grow gradually and start looking like little frogs called froglets. They still live in water but begin to spend some time on land. They continue to grow and lose their tails completely. Their legs become strong to help them jump and land. The chapter emphasizes that special features support each stage - the tail is a special feature that supports the tadpole's aquatic life stage.
Solution Steps
The tail provides a significant survival advantage for tadpoles living in an aquatic habitat.
It enables tadpoles to swim efficiently to find food and escape from predators.
As tadpoles grow into frogs, they develop strong legs and begin spending time on land.
The tail disappears because it is no longer needed as the frog adapts to its dual habitat.