An amphibian-loving cinematographer has shared his magical experience of being surrounded by common toad (bufo bufo) tadpoles in a pond he dubs the ‘tadpole meadows’.
"Swimming alongside these common toad tadpoles was like a dream straight out of a Studio Ghibli,” says wildlife filmmaker and ecologist Adam Radage on Instagram, referring to the Japanese animation films famed for their wondrous depictions of nature.
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“It was amazing to watch the tadpoles constantly grazing within the beams of the shallows,” says Radage.
"Come sunset they gathered into one long shoal (a common trait for toad tadpoles) and migrated into the safety of the pond’s depths until morning come.”
According to the Woodland Trust, a good way of telling the difference between common toad tadpoles and common frog tadpoles is their colour. “After hatching, toad tadpoles are black while frog tadpoles are greener,” the charity says on its website.
After spending several weeks observing these fascinating little polliwogs (another name for a tadpole), Radage can’t wait to see the next step on their journey – literally. "So looking forward to getting back and seeing the little ones take their first steps on land,” he says.
Image and video credit: Adam Radage / @adamradage_wild
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